Well-loved Christmas light display will stay local

Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal
Updated ·1 min read

ONTARIO ― The City of Ontario has purchased the Hagerman brothers' Christmas light display to erect in the city for years to come.

Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson said Tuesday the well-loved holiday display, which ended this past Christmas holiday after 63 years on Beal Road, will stay local.

For 63 years the Hagermans' Christmas light display has illuminated the corner of Beal and Fleming Falls Roads.
For 63 years the Hagermans' Christmas light display has illuminated the corner of Beal and Fleming Falls Roads.

"We (council) thought it was a good investment," he said. The display will be erected in Marshall Park and will be a free drive-through display during the holiday season.

After 63 years, this year the Hagermans' Christmas light display illuminated the corner of Beal and Fleming Falls roads for the last time.

Dick Hagerman, 86, at left, and his brother Jim Hagerman, 77, after 60 years, retired from setting up their 30,000-plus holiday light display at the corner of Beal and Fleming Falls roads. The light display was on through Jan. 1.
Dick Hagerman, 86, at left, and his brother Jim Hagerman, 77, after 60 years, retired from setting up their 30,000-plus holiday light display at the corner of Beal and Fleming Falls roads. The light display was on through Jan. 1.

Earlier, Melissa Hagerman, who is serving as spokesperson for the Hagerman family, said brothers Jim Hagerman and Dick Hagerman, who have spent a better part of their lives spreading joy to the community, decided it was time for them and their families to retire the well-loved display.

The display was up and the lights were on through Jan. 1.

The entire Beal Road light display was sold together, with a minimum bid of $5,000, according to the Hagerman family.

The Fleming Falls Road light display will be given to family.

Hutchinson, who graduated from Madison Comprehensive High School, said he grew up on nearby Stewart Road, and can remember going by the display with his parents.

"It's been a longstanding tradition," he said of the display.

Ontario will erect a sign at the display honoring the Hagerman brothers, he said.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: After 63 years, the Hagermans' Christmas light display ended Jan. 1