Imagine if you will a scenario which an individual is driving their car down the quiet road of Pine Street in Yankton, South Dakota with thoughts of reuniting with their family after a long and stressful day at work. The wintery evening is dark, yet calm as the snow is gracefully making its long journey from December clouds to the frozen ground below. His mind is filled with memories and thoughts concerning events that had happened throughout the day when suddenly he notices something peculiar out of the corner of his eye. He parks his car on the side of the road to take a closer look and notices a stone path winding its way to a house. This house is small by the looks of it, but uniquely shaped. But even more peculiar is the radiant glow bursting from the windows, and immediately this man realizes that this house is quite far from ordinary. Because beyond the glow from within these windows rests a world where Christmas is a little more than just a simple holiday that comes but once a year. It is a welcomed guest.
This is the house of Jeannette Warren, a Yankton resident since 1958, and her love for Christmas surpasses most other individuals who live on her block (if not the entire Yankton community). Should Jeannette invite you into her house during the Christmas season, the proof of her holiday passion would easily become known. You would find not one, but five Christmas trees standing bold and proud with different flavors of holiday décor covering each one. There would be holiday wreathes covering windows, each wreath being different and uniquely crafted. Many dolls wearing holiday clothing would be seen standing either alone or with another, gleaming with personality. And resting upon living room shelves would be miniature Christmas towns containing little communities of people celebrating the spirit of the wintery season.
One of the major factors that helped contribute to such a collection was Jeannette’s parents who used to own a garden center when she was a little girl. Every year during the holidays, she would assist her parents in converting this garden center into a Christmas store where members of the community could purchase a number of items to help decorate their homes. Knowing how much their daughter loved this time of year, her parents would give her gifts that were Christmas-themed in some form or another.
This became a yearly tradition that lasted many years and eventually, Jeannette’s collection had increased substantially.
Time passed and Jeannette married her late husband, Robert Warren. One year during the holidays, he gave Jeannette a doll as a Christmas gift and immediately another passion was born. “I’ve been collecting dolls for about 30 years. Most of my dolls are turn of the century,” said Jeannette.
Combining her love for Christmas and her passion for dolls, Jeannette has decorated some of these dolls in Christmas attire. She has even obtained a few dolls resembling Santa Claus, each containing a different look and expression.
Although all of the Christmas items within Jeannette’s home are evidence of her love for the holiday, some of these items hold a deeper, stronger, and perhaps much more emotional tie that is bound to her heart. The following are a few honorable mentions that either contain such emotional ties or simply contain interesting facts about them.
The Santa Doll
Throughout the years, Jeannette has collected a variety of dolls that resemble Santa Claus, but this one in particular is unlike any other within her collection. Years ago, while attending a craft show in Sioux Falls with a friend, she noticed a doll among the other crafts. Eventually, the holidays were approaching and Robert was seeking ideas as to what to give Jeannette for Christmas.
He made contact with Jeannette’s friend who had attended the craft show with her and asked for her input. She brought up the doll at the craft show, but when Robert contacted the woman selling the doll, he found out to his dismay that it had already been sold to another. But the woman had another idea.
Being a doll maker herself, she decided to personally hand craft and make a brand new doll especially for Jeannette. When Robert handed this doll to Jeannette, she instantly became attached and this is one that has become one of her most personal favorites within her entire collection.
The Waxed Porcelain Doll
Although not necessarily a Christmas doll, this one is very special in the way it was made. The doll maker who crafted this item used wax over porcelain as a medium to form its features and expression. “I won’t put her in direct sunlight because it would affect the wax,” said Jeannette. “Wax over porcelain is very unique in that aspect.”
The White Flocked Tree
Among the various Christmas trees within Jeannette’s home exists one where the branches are covered in snow and the ornaments shine like diamonds. This is because the ornaments used in this beautiful tree are, in fact, made from crystal glass.
The Tower of Big Ben
Not all of Jeannette’s Christmas items are based entirely out of myth. This Dickens Village has been made to resemble London as the tower of Big Ben towers over the rest of the tiny community.
The Buildings of Holland and Amsterdam
This village also resembles real life locations within the world – Holland and Amsterdam. Ten buildings stand side-by-side above a watery canal that runs through the small city as a boat makes its way across the waters. But if one were to look at this tiny set-up, they would never guess the sentimental value and emotional history of friendship behind these amazing structures.
Years ago while on a cruise vacation, Jeannette and Robert found themselves inside a crowded area inside the ship. Robert needed a place to sit down, so Jeannette asked a couple at a nearby table by the name of Franz and Sophie if they would let her and Robert sit with them.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Franz replied, “We would be perfectly delighted, Ma’am!” What followed was a strong bond of friendship between the couples that would last a lifetime. They would do everything together from extravagant trips across the world to simple regular conversations over the phone. One year for Christmas, Franz and Sophie gave the tiny buildings of Holland and Amsterdam as a gift to Jeannette and Robert and has remained as an important piece to Jeannette’s collection ever since.
The Birdhouse Tree and the Doll Tree
Not every Christmas tree needs traditional decorations. Jeannette’s six-foot birdhouse tree, for example, is covered in berries and birdhouses to add a different, fun look.
Meanwhile, the doll tree is covered in pink décor and tiny dolls that make this particular tree quite the attraction.
The Giant Christmas Tree
A wise man once said, “The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” Now take this saying and apply it to putting together a Christmas tree, replacing the words “thousand miles” to “eight hours”. This is the amount of time it takes Jeannette to undergo this massive project which contains 1,400 lights, 75ft ribbon and with branches so enormous that it takes two people to lift and place the separate sections into their respective slots. In the end, however, the hard work is well worth the effort.
Music Box
Received as a gift from her parents, this interesting looking object appears to be but a strange, cylindrical piece of art with an angel standing gracefully at its peak. But once activated, this object transforms into a spectacular music box that plays 16 different Christmas songs. What’s more is that the cylinder will spin and the windows will open revealing a bright angel inside.
Hannah and The Travelers
Jeannette’s passion for her dolls is so deep that she has taken the liberty of placing a name and/or a title for each and every one. “Hannah” was given as a gift from Robert who received the doll from a doll maker who lived on a farm east of Volin, South Dakota. This individual was so talented in her craft that she even gave lessons in doll making.
The wicker carriage
carrying the baby was supplied by the doll maker as well. Meanwhile, “The Travelers” are a small group of dolls who “travel” in the back of an old fashioned carriage, bringing holiday cheer to anyone they may encounter.
The Dinner Plates of England
Aside from Christmas dolls, trees, and miniature villages, Jeannette has also collected a number of dinner plates from across the globe. These plates in particular originated from England and Holland and are majestically mounted upon her wall.
The Educated Christmas Ornament
Years ago when Jeanette was a little girl in school, her teacher would ask students during the Christmas season to bring their personal favorite Christmas ornament from home to show to the rest of the class. Jeannette’s top pick every year was a clear, pink teardrop ornament she valued above all other ornaments as a child. She eventually named this, “The Educated Christmas Ornament,” due to it being her top pick of ornaments she would bring to school.
Aside from being a collector of Christmas items, Jeannette is also an artist of sorts. All Christmas wreathes found hanging in her porch windows have been hand-crafted by her and has even obtained the attention of the Yankton community. A business downtown once asked if she would allow them to sell her wreathes to the public which she happily agreed. Sometimes the wreathes that decorate her windows are replaced with candles because, according to Jeannette, “ A candle in the window is always a sign of welcome.”
Today, Jeannette continues to keep up her holiday decorating tradition which is no small task as she begins decorating shortly after the first of November, giving her plenty of time to transform her home into the winter wonderland she desires. Friends will help her with the enormous task by assisting in putting up lights as well as putting together some of the much larger Christmas trees. Each year she tries to add something new to her collection and plans to add a new white flocked Christmas tree with a silver and gold look this year.
“I love Christmas,” said Jeannette. “The decorations, the smells, the decorating. I’ve enjoyed Christmas all my life.”
