A trip to Johnsonville

HURON — During this crazy time of year, having a nice relaxing drive to look at Christmas lights and other displays around town is a wonderful way to invest in a little family time.
If such a trip is on your agenda, a trip to Johnsonville should be high on the old priority list. Johnsonville is easy to find — turn west off Lincoln Ave., on Center Street, then a block later north on Mellette. If you see a huge display of lights and other decorations you are there.
If you see the sign that once towered over Franks Hamburgers in Huron you have arrived at your destination. The sign to the right of the Franks clown will confirm it.
“Johnsonville population 2 and one wiener dog.”
Todd and Juanita Johnson are the residents of Johnsonville and this year have created a one-of-a-kind Christmas lights display. Todd grew up in the same house in which the couple now lives and inherited adjacent property from other family members, so now there is a large expanse of property that is all connected.
“During the fair we have more than 100 RVs that camp here each year,” Todd said.
Two things set this ever-growing light display apart. First, the display is a drive-through experience. And there is an abundance of things to see on each side of your vehicle.
And second, there are signs mixed in liberally throughout the display. Old signs, which those of a certain age will recall seeing around the Fair City. Signs like the Franks 21 cent hamburger sign.
“The old signs, yeah, those are kind of my hobby,” Todd says. “I’ve been collecting them for awhile - long enough that people think about me when they come across one.”
Local signs that you can see mixed in among the snowmen and Grinches on your trip through Johnsonville include 21st Street Body Shop, the John Ward Restaurant, Sibley Motors, a sign from the AMC dealership, Hurd Alignment and the Old Meyers Pub. Some are easy to see, others have been carefully placed so they are a part of the display.
Following the arrows will take you past a collection of 30-foot tall candy canes, wrapped with lights, one of many decorations that Todd has created for the display.

“This is the first year we have done this as a drive-through,” Juanita said. “Yeah, we’ve done lights for quite a few years,” Todd chimed in, “but it got a little confusing for people, because they would need to figure out where and how to get turned around. So, we just added a lane out of the yard this year.”
Rope lights will guide you through the display, which is eclectic and wide ranging.
“We have the electrical outlets for the campers, so there are a lot of outlets that we can use,” Todd said. “Still, we may have enough cords to reach to Alpena!” he added with a grin.
Mixed in are a collection of wood carvings that are decorative for the campers. All of the carvings get the lighting treatment as well.
“We’re looking for new things all the time,” Todd said. “We don’t just go out and buy what is popular right now, but I kinda like finding that something that is new and different.”
Years ago he said that the couple used to decorate a bit for Halloween, but changed to Christmas in the past few years. He said that this year they began putting up lights in late September, continuing work in the evenings and on the weekends when the weather was cooperative. “We don’t try to make a job out of it,” he added. “I guess we had it all done just before Thanksgiving.”
The time-consuming part, as it is for everyone, is when you roll out that light string and only half of it lights up. “Yeah, we have to check them as we go. People tell us that you can change out the bulbs if some are out, but I have found that it’s much quicker to just get a different strand out - one that does light up.”
The couple’s four grandchildren also helped out when they could, on visits to Johnsonville.
About that name...?
“Well there’s a story there,” Todd said. “We were visiting Juanita’s daughter in New York and got to talking about our light display and she said ‘It’s kinda like you have your own city.’”
“We said that it was and jokingly said we could call it Johnsonville,” Juanita said. “Todd said population 2, and I added ‘and one wienerdog,” she said.
“A couple days later, the sign showed up on our front step,” Todd said.
Johnsonville is the home of Todd and Juanita Johnson (and Newman, the wienerdog) as well as a unique, drive through display of Christmas lights and antique signage.
Don’t worry if you don’t catch everything when you go through.
Just flip on your left blinker, follow the arrows and make another pass.

Photos by Angelina Della Rocco of the Plainsman
Juanita and Todd Johnson, along with their dachshund “Newman,” pose outside their house on Mellette Ave., amidst their unique Christmas light display. In addition to thousands of lights, old business signs that once graced Huron businesses are part of the drive-through experience as well, such as the Old Myers Pub sign.

For more photos from Johnsonville, visit the Plainsman.com homepage and scroll down to the image gallery.