Walkhill Wonderland Holiday Display Delightful Norwood Tradition-December 22, 2012

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The annual holiday decorating tradition at 1 Walkhill Road in Norwood, affectionately known as Walkhill Wonderland, has continued to expand larger every single year since Kathy Greene and Phillip Greene first began decking out their house in 1980. What started as a festive holiday display has grown into a beloved neighborhood spectacle that draws wide attention across the community.

The extensive holiday decorating process is a massive undertaking that occasionally causes some lighthearted spats, Kathy Greene noted, primarily because Phillip Greene maintains a very specific, meticulous vision of how he wants every single decoration and light arranged across the property. Fortunately, help arrived just in time for the seasonal rush when their twenty-one-year-old son, Brenden Greene, recently returned home from military service. Stepping right back into family holiday traditions, Brenden Greene remarked with a laugh, I wish I could’ve come back a week later so I wouldn’t have had to help.

Running such a massive and elaborate seasonal exhibition comes with practical logistical challenges as well. Kathy Greene shared that their household electric bill increases significantly during the winter months, prompting the family to start transitioning their extensive setup over to energy-efficient LED lights. Despite the rising utility costs and the hard work required each winter, stopping the tradition is simply out of the question. Expressing the sentiment shared by many local admirers, Kathy Greene reflected, I can’t imagine what the reaction would be from others if we stopped decorating, ensuring that Walkhill Wonderland will remain a cherished seasonal landmark for residents throughout Norwood.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives at Boston.com

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