A Village of Light, Memory and Christmas Magic

By Danielle McCulley  

Walking into the home of lifelong Hudson residents Dawn and Dennis Young during the  holiday season feels a bit like stepping into a Christmas story.  

The first thing visitors notice is the glow with warm lights spilling across miniature  buildings, winding streets and carefully placed scenes, all set beneath a starry-night backdrop  that stretches across the dining room walls. For children, it is nothing short of Christmas magic.  For adults, it evokes something quieter and familiar: a sense of nostalgia that reaches back to  childhood Christmases, when wonder came easily and time felt slower.  

At the heart of it all is the Youngs’ Christmas village is a collection more than three  decades in the making, built piece by piece since 1992. What began with a single building and  a horse-drawn carriage has grown into an expansive, multi-room display featuring more than  100 buildings, two skating rinks, a Ferris wheel, carousel, train stations, parks, farms, a  business district and countless details that invite visitors to pause and look closer.  “There’s a lot to see,” Dawn said. “And it has to look right.”  

A tradition that grew with time  

The village began during a time when Christmas cards filled mailboxes and office  desks. Dawn recalls admiring a Dickens-era village pictured on a card her office received and  casually mentioning her love of Christmas villages to her boss at the time. That Christmas, her  former boss, who has since passed away, surprised her with her first two pieces, and a  tradition was born.  

For many years, the village grew gradually. Then, around 2019, it expanded more  rapidly, spilling across additional surfaces and eventually into a second “suburb” in the living  room. That area features Hawthorne Village pieces inspired by the artwork of Terry Redlin and  Thomas Kinkade, offering a slightly different scale and level of detail while remaining connected  to the larger scene.  

Dawn’s sister, Rita, often teased her about the effort it took to decorate, especially the  village, but never missed a chance to document it. She frequently recorded videos to share  with coworkers and family, capturing the scenes Dawn spent weeks arranging.  

During the 2019 holiday season, Rita joked that Dawn couldn’t possibly squeeze  another piece into the village.  

Dawn took the comment as a challenge and began planning ways to expand the  display. Rita was later diagnosed with cancer and passed away before she could see the next  village take shape — but the tradition remains closely tied to her memory.  “I think of her every year when I set it up,” Dawn said.  

More than decoration  

What makes the Youngs’ display special is not just its scale, but its meaning. Nearly  every piece holds a story.  

A section of track from Dawn’s late father’s model railroad rests near one of the village  train stations. Other pieces reflect family connections, shared memories and moments  gathered over time — subtle tributes woven naturally into the scene rather than called out.  

The setup itself is a process. Dawn begins with a general layout in mind, then adjusts as  she goes, moving pieces until everything feels balanced. What once took about a week to  assemble now takes nearly a month.  

Nearly every horizontal surface in the home is transformed. There are at least 15  decorated trees, two full-size and many smaller, along with nativity scenes, snowmen, angels,  lanterns, Santas, reindeer and a handmade sleigh built by a family member.  “It doesn’t really feel like Christmas to me until it’s all up,” Dawn said.  

A village meant to be shared 

Despite the time and care involved, Dawn is quick to downplay her creativity. Still, the  attention to lighting, layout and storytelling suggests a natural eye for design.  From one end of the display, a father and son peer through a telescope toward the night  sky. Across the room, Santa’s sleigh passes overhead. A newspaper office sits near City Hall. A  carnival glows nearby. A train winds through it all, connecting each scene.  Inspired by ideas shared among village enthusiasts, the starry-night backdrop was  added to enhance the sense of depth throughout the display, creating the feeling of a  continuous winter evening.  

Neighbors, friends and family return year after year to see it. Children help place pieces,  then return later eager to spot new details.  

“My favorite reaction is when kids’ faces light up,” Dawn said. “They notice everything.”  

A season captured in miniature  

When the lights are finally switched on — powered with the help of carefully planned  wiring and a few remotes — the village settles into what it does best: offering joy without  asking anything in return.  

It is not about perfection. It is about memory. About tradition. About creating a space  where Christmas feels alive.  

“I just hope it brings a bit of joy to everyone who sees it,” Dawn said.  

In the Young home, it already does.