HISTORY OF Christmas Lane of lights.

 As simple as it was, the lighted mesquite was one of the most memorable symbols of the Christmas holidays.  

 From at least 1978 through 1989 the Jay Jervis family (Jay, Chris, Jon and Robin) made the annual trek to the Lower Rio Grande Valley for Christmas celebration with family. The small children would sleep most of the way and were usually wide awake by Kingsville…with the eternal, youthful sense of adventure in their repetitive whispers of “…are we there?” ..answered with the disappointing truth…”not yet.”….but the symbol of the season was not as far away.  From Kingsville on, the watch for the colorful lights to announce the impending arrival to the valley would begin.  For years the family enjoyed the spectacularly Christmas lighted mesquite just north of Raymondville, on the east side of US 77.  It was a spectacle to be viewed on those trips.  Its purpose was many.  It reminded us of the spectacular Christmas season and the anticipation of all the family, friends in fellowship; fantastic, fanciful foods; fabulist faces; facile facilitators; and faithful fullness of following the Father of us all in His most assured reward for us all, FUN. 

In 1990, our family intended to put a little sparkle of Christmas light in the travels of those passing by during the tedious hours spent in less than thrilling anticipation of the destination.  Someone once said, and it is repeated often…it is not the destination but the trip that makes anything worthwhile.  We had a small mesquite along the south side of US 290 that we intended to use similar to the Raymondville mesquite. It started with putting up a few Christmas scenes and majestically lighting the ponds for all passing by to enjoy.  Even a few hay rides through the lights were had that first year.  There were trial and errors and much experimenting the first couple years, but over the initial 9 years, Santa’s Lane of Lights grew and became an annual tradition for many families.  

 On occasion, night truck drivers stopped during the day to express their appreciation for that sparkle in their long night time hauls.  All the nine years the lights were absent, numerous calls were received requesting that season’s schedule.  When the inquirers were answered with, “no we haven’t done it since 1998,” and “no one seems to have the time or energy,” there was always a word or two of disappointment and appreciation for having been able to enjoy it before, and expressions of desire for the lights to start again.

That Ledbetter mesquite tree is gone but the spirit has grown like toppsy and after a nine year rest, in 2008, The Ledbetter Volunteer Fire Department has led the community to be that annual little spark in the Christmas Holidays for those traveling through Ledbetter.

 The public’s enjoyment of the celebration of the birth of the tiny baby Jesus is the boost to the producers of all the effort to accomplish this coordinated effort.

                                        Compiled by Chris Jervis and Robin Jervis Zapalac