In 2022, these homeowners invited you to virtually visit their South Akron workman’s cottage to view their clever Christmas decorating. Now that they’ve moved to Highland Square, they welcome you to experience their expanded holiday décor in person. Their new home is a classic Dutch Colonial with a gambrel roof and shed dormer. Four stately white columns support the roof of the incised porch. The house was built in 1920 for Rudolph May, the treasurer of Swinehart Rubber Company. The altar at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church is dedicated to his memory.

This house is filled with so many holiday and vintage treasures that it’s best not to blink, or you’ll miss something. The first room you’ll visit is the woodland-themed sunporch, where a reindeer-covered tree takes center stage. Stockings are hung on the fireplace, the first of three in the house. In the living room, four built-in bookcases flank the fireplace, each filled with Christmas memorabilia.

The living room décor is dedicated to the Wizard of Oz. Lo and behold, Dorothy herself is here to greet you. One owner has been collecting Wizard of Oz memorabilia since high school, and the collection is extensive. The tree has more than 500 ornaments, including every Oz ornament ever made by Hallmark. The tree topper is Glinda the Good Witch, descending in her shimmering globe. When a magic wand turns the tree lights on, the ornaments begin to speak their lines from the movie. On the mantel, don’t miss the replica of Dorothy’s ruby slippers – authentic to the last detail. The homeowners even have a Judy Garland autograph! A side table is devoted to the Tin Man, and the Wizard of Oz library contains every Oz book written by L. Frank Baum.

On the second floor, in the main bathroom, there is a large photo of a young Judy Garland. Because she starred as Dorothy in the Oz movie, she is honored throughout the house in many ways. Another of the homeowners’ passions is movie posters, so references to Christmas movies abound. Here is a poster for Home Alone 2, where a scary Bozo peeks out of the shower, a reference to a scene in the movie. In the main bedroom, a hot-pink tree dazzles and a matching garland graces the Meet Me in St. Louis poster. The graphic print of Judy is a copy of the Andy Warhol original.

The blue, green and silver tree in the home office sets a calming tone for work. In the craft room, a poster from Holiday Inn shares a wall with vintage ornaments. A large collection of Samsonite’s Bermuda Green luggage holds craft supplies. In the chair, an armadillo mask on a stuffed doll recalls a favorite episode of Friends in which Ross was forced to wear an armadillo costume because a Santa one was unavailable.

Downstairs, a long shallow archway opens into the dining room. The archway and the corner cupboard are special architectural features of the room. The cupboard is filled with white pottery vases holding vintage ornaments. The table is set with a red plaid tablecloth, green paisley placemats, and Adoration silverware. On the kitchen wall, there is a magazine ad featuring Judy Garland as the spokesperson for the Rogers Bros. Adoration silverware pattern. Other pieces from this line are seen throughout the house.

Previous owners had remodeled the kitchen, opening it to the dining room. Happy memories of the homeowners’ two grandmas are showcased herein. One is a framed Christmas cookie recipe written for her grandson, and another is a note identifying which box holds the Christmas dishes.

The breakfast room houses the spectacular “scrapbook tree.” Some decorations are from their childhoods, others have been collected over the years, and even more are pop culture and movie references. Additional movie references can be seen in the family room, including the iconic leg lamp and little brother Randy’s aviator cap from A Christmas Story, among others.

Down the hall, the half bath has a nickel floor – with real nickels – and a collection of vintage Santas. The billiard room in the recently renovated basement holds the pop culture tree, and movie posters line the walls. Back upstairs, the guest suite is home to numerous Nativity sets collected over the years. In line with the Nativity theme, the gold tree is adorned with olives, palms and thistles.

As you leave, the homeowners wish a very merry Christmas to you, and your little dog, too!