Saturday, April 08, 2000
Holiday tradition goes on auction block
BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Auctioneer Bill Holton sells a statue at the Rudd Farm.
(Tony Jones photo)
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BLUE CREEK — Where Christmas music echoed through the hollows for three decades, the staccato of an auctioneer's chant began at noon Friday. So did tears.
The Rudd Farm and all of its holiday trimmings — including the 1 million lights that turned brilliant the hillsides and valley near this rural Adams County hamlet — is being sold. The sale resumes at 10 a.m. today.
“We have been able to show millions of people a wonderful story. We will never forget these times,” said Carl Rudd, 69, who 30 years ago decided to create the Christmas display on his 40-acre farm.
“I'm going to miss the little children the most. They would walk through these hills and ask their mommies what this is all about. And moms would explain,” he said. “I'd love to give each of them a hug, today.”
Carl Rudd
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On a day when severe weather threatened, about 100 people came to the farm Friday — many for a final look and to take home a memory.
“When things bother me, I try not to think about them a lot. I try to stay busy,” said Judy Rudd, 56, Carl's wife. “I know this is going to hit us later as the auction goes on. I've shed some tears already. But, we have to go on. It's best to move on.”
The Rudds are selling out because Mr. Rudd has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Bob Farmer, the Rudds' son-in-law, said the problem is, “no one knows about the electrical part of this place but Carl, and sometimes he has a hard time remembering now.”
The Rudd's display featured more the 1 million lights.
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A buyer could not be found to take over the farm and its Christmas tradition, although some churches tried to raise the money, said Joe Gustin, a real estate agent who listed the property for six months.
Auctioneer Bill Holton of Russellville in Brown County said he had no idea how many items are being sold. “We won't know until after the auction when we tally the final list,” he said.
Mr. Holton guided the crowd up and down the concrete walks, selling items that ring the hollow. The walks took visitors on a holiday tour unequaled, a place shared by everything Christmas — from Frosty the Snowman to the Magi visiting the Baby Jesus, and the Madonna and Child.
Wreaths and stars, religious statuary, myriad lights, Nativity scenes, candy canes and Santa Claus, eight 8-foot-tall silver, trumpeting angels cluttered the lawn around the Rudds' country home. Two donkeys from a live Nativity scene and a pair of peacocks also were on the auction slate.
“Why is this here?” Mr. Rudd said, repeating a question. “Well, when I was little boy growing up in a hollow in Wolfe County (in east central Kentucky), I went to bed many nights with nothing. I said then, that if I ever got the opportunity to tell the world this story of Christmas that I would. It is our greatest gift.”
Mr. Rudd said he commuted from Adams County to jobs in Dayton at General Motors and Frigidaire. His display — which drew the attention of national TV networks over the years — grew each year. There was never an admission fee — even as visitors peaked at about 200,000 last Christmas season. And neighbors never complained about all the hubbub, he said.
Mary Rhonemus, 45, of West Union, stood Friday with her daughter, Alisa, waiting for the sale to start. A tear ran down each of her cheeks.
“This had been a very special place for many years,” she said. “It did not matter how many people came here. It was, in its own way, always peaceful. No one would yell or cuss. The peace of God was really here, and I'm going to take a piece of that back to our farm to remember. I don't know what that will be, yet.”
A few children came with their parents. “I want Mr. Ho-Ho-Ho,” shouted Stephanie Routt, 5, about a Santa Claus. She visited with her father, Steve, 28, of Eagle Township in Brown County. “And, daddy, I want a donkey and a peacock too.”
Mrs. Rudd said she and her husband will remain in their home in the hollow if the high bid for the land and house are unacceptable. Otherwise, they will move to property they own in Winchester, also in Adams County.
“I'll always put up Christmas trees and lights around our porch, no matter where we are. And, folks are always welcome to visit. You know that's the way we are,” Mrs. Rudd said.
“We're just cutting back — a lot.”
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