Howland woman gets into the holiday spirit

Decorates 65 trees in her home for Christmas

HOWLAND -- When Peggy Boyd started decorating her Castle Rock Drive home 11 years ago for the Christmas holiday, she never imagined it would grow to include 65 different trees.

Boyd,who started decorating this year on Thanksgiving Day, spent two weeks to get the trees in place throughout her 11-room home as well as outside.

She said while each main room has one large traditional-size tree, there also are smaller trees she placed along the floor, on tables, the kitchen counters, shelves, stairways and the patio.

"There are decorated trees, light-up trees, ceramic trees, one-single-color trees and matching trees," she said.

Many of the decorations for the trees she was able to obtain as part of the Trumbull Travel Club, often finding decorations throughout the country when on vacation.

"There is one pink tree that has also the travel decorations I found. I have a buffalo decoration from North Dakota and angel decorations from New Mexico," Boyd said.

Other Christmas decorations, some of which are more than four decades old, were inherited from her mother, Elenora Thomas, after she died and from her younger brother, Jim Thomas, when he died.

"They both had a lot of ceramic decorations including trees, which can be placed on tables, counters and shelves. My mother's German background included many unique holiday decorations," she said.

Because of the amount of work putting up and decorating the trees, Boyd said her son, Jason Law, and her grandchildren help her.

"If I really work at it, I can get the trees all up in less than two weeks. I need help because of my legs," she said.

Meribeth Feher, a neighbor, said she and her husband put their tree up only a few days ago.

"Years ago, I thought I decorated a lot when I was younger. When I saw what Peggy has done, I was wrong. I often stop over to get in the Christmas spirit," she said.

Boyd said she got the idea of decorating her home with trees after watching a holiday decorating show.

"I watched the show on television, and the woman said you should be able to be in any place in your home and be able to see some Christmas trees," she said.

One of the oldest trees she displays, which is in her dining room, features bird decorations, including peacocks, cardinals and penguins. Some ornaments are over 40 years old, which were owned by her mother.

"Many of the trees have a special place in my heart like this one," she said.

In one bedroom is a bubble-light tree, another room has a tulip light tree, a patriotic tree with flags is in the hallway and a tree with cat decorations is on the floor of a bathroom.

The house has become a popular visiting site, she said, and has been used for fundraising events for the League of Women Voters of Trumbull County and the GFWC Warren Junior Women's League.

"People who come in are in awe at all the trees. I am glad when people stop by and can get into the Christmas spirit," Boyd said.

One of her favorite trees has crystal drop decorations which came from a chandelier in California. Another is decorated with items given to her when she was director at the Howland SCOPE Center for eight years.

While many people like her large white tree in the living room, Boyd said it is the most time-consuming to decorate because it needs put together piece by piece. Other trees already are assembled, she said.

Boyd also decorates her home for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Fourth of July.

Her children and grandchildren will spend time with her this holiday, she said, and help her take decorations down.