Montville household's holiday exuberance ready for the viewing

Montville - The glow illuminating the midpoint of Sharp Hill Road can been seen from Route 163 without straining an eye.

What started out as a single strand a few decades ago has turned into 40,173 bulbs strewn about the property at No. 59 where Betty Ann Dessert, aka the Head Elf, and her husband Chuck Orr, aka Santa, set up an annual Christmas display for the young and the young at heart.

Almost every foot of the front yard is covered with a form of illumination, however it doesn't hold a candle to what is inside the seven room, two bathroom house.

Dessert starts to string the lights, then the garland, along the ceilings and door frames in July. Decorations traditional and unusual adorn every available space including chairs, tables and the tops of the toilet tanks.

For about 20 years she has opened it up to the public, first to help raise money for the Girl Scouts and now for people's enjoyment and to raise money for a local and national charity.

The Christmas House will open on Saturday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and again on Sunday and the following weekend for the same hours. For more information call (860) 848-7514.