'Little Switzerland' plays host to Snow Village

‘Little Switzerland’ plays host to Snow Village

Three town squares bring Christmas to Eureka Springs in the annual Snow Village and Train Exhibit at Gaskins Switch Village, a fundraiser for the Eureka Springs Historical Museum. Larry Handley, family and friends annually create a village scene with his 600 pieces of the Dept. 56 collectibles.
Three town squares bring Christmas to Eureka Springs in the annual Snow Village and Train Exhibit at Gaskins Switch Village, a fundraiser for the Eureka Springs Historical Museum. Larry Handley, family and friends annually create a village scene with his 600 pieces of the Dept. 56 collectibles.

What started as a quaint Christmas village has grown in to a mega-metropolis, and it will be on display starting Sunday in Eureka Springs. The now-annual Snow Village and Train Exhibit at Gaskins Switch Village helps raise funds for the Eureka Springs Historical Museum.

Cathy and Larry Handley build the village each year from Larry's collection of Dept. 56 series shops and houses. His daughter unknowingly founded the village when she was in college.

FAQ

Snow Village & Train Exhibit

WHEN — 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 27; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each Saturday & 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each Sunday, Nov. 28-Dec. 20; and 5-7 p.m. Dec. 21-23

WHERE — Gaskins Switch Village, 2047 U.S. 62 East, Eureka Springs

COST — $2-$5

INFO — 253-9417

"My father has always been a big fan of Christmas, and he loved houses and history and trains," says his daughter, Hope Clark, who now lives in Millersville, Ga.

"I saw this house, and I thought it was cool, and he could display it at Christmas," she continues. "I was not thinking about the series. Back then, the price was reasonable; I was a college student, after all.

"I thought I would get him another one the year after that, and the year after that ... so he should have 15 or 16 pieces by now."

Today, Handley's collection numbers 600 individual Snow Village pieces. "What happened is, others would buy me pieces. And then, of course, there's eBay," Handley says with a laugh. He notes his collection as of this year lacks only 10 of the Snow Village retired pieces, although he has none from the first two years Dept. 56 made the series -- 1976 and 1977 -- and only a couple from 1978.

His collection includes not only the buildings but accessory pieces like cars, people, lamp posts, trees and more that give the village life. He says his favorites include those with animation and surprises. One he described is a music box, and when the music is playing, through the window of the house, visitors can see "Mommy dancing with Santa Claus, like 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,'" he says.

Handley admits to liking the trains, too. His father had model trains on display when Handley was in his 20s. And while Handley admits to a big collection, he says he is fairly selective in the pieces he adds. Some date to the mid-1920s.

In addition to three Lionel O-scale trains and a trolley that will run through the Snow Village, Handley also promised Thomas the Tank Engine and the Polar Express will run through the villages as a surprise for children.

Handley's Snow Village exhibit started in his home, but it outgrew the family's space. About five years ago, Handley created his Christmas scene at the Eureka Springs Historical Museum as a fundraiser. Handley serves on the museum's board of directors.

When the village outgrew the museum, the Inn of the Ozarks hosted the exhibit for two years. Then it moved to the library and, for the past two years, has taken up residence in a vacant store at Gaskins Switch.

Handley estimates it takes him, family and friends more than 180 hours to create the scene. "Each year it's different. I can definitely say it's never the same one year to the next," he says.

"I like laying it out, making it look like it did when I was a kid," Handley continues. He recalls similar scenes in the windows of Western Auto and Otasco stores of the 1950s in Rogers. "I consider it the old-fashioned type of Christmas, what you were wishing for under your tree."'

Handley also enjoys seeing excitement in the eyes of Eureka Springs' first-graders, who come to the village to watch "The Polar Express" movie. Residents of nursing homes brought on outings express much the same awe, he says.

And the display is really special when he turns out the overhead lights, leaving just the lights from the village to make the magic.

"He's excited when others enjoy it," Clark says. "I'm glad that what started as such a neat hobby for him is so appreciated."

NAN What's Up on 11/20/2015

Upcoming Events