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Civitarese-Cushman House

Buildings and structures in Dedham, MassachusettsChristmas decorations

The Civitarese-Cushman House is a home in East Dedham, Massachusetts known for its elaborate Christmas light displays. The house, located at 121 Garfield Avenue, was first decorated by Nick and Roberta Civaterese in 1973. The tradition was continued after their death by their daughter, Rita-Mae Cushman. As of 2003, four generations of the family were involved in setting up the display. The family begins in August, on Nick Civitarese's birthday, by pulling out the lights and checking the bulbs. It takes three months to assemble the display. The family allows the public to walk through their yards to see all of the lights. Cushman will often stand outside in the yard at night, greeting visitors and offering them hot chocolate and cookies. Generations of families have come to see the displays, with parents who came as children often bringing their own children. Families will often take photos in the yard that they then use as their Christmas cards. New lights were added to the display every year until 2020, when the house's electrical system maxed out. The display now constitutes thousands of lights, inflatables, figurines, dolls, music, and other decorations. The family has so many decorations that not all of them can be put out. The electrical bill rises significantly, which upsets Cushman's husband, but she tells him that "I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't go places anymore. This is my big joy, my big pleasure." The lights are lit on the first Sunday of December and stay lit for a few days after Christmas. On opening day, the Dedham Fire Department brings Santa Claus on a firetruck to greet children and allow them to sit in the large sleigh in the backyard. Santa then returns on the other Sundays of December as well.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Civitarese-Cushman House (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors).

Civitarese-Cushman House
Garfield Road,

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N 42.25165 ° E -71.15031 °
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Garfield Road 121
02136
Massachusetts, United States
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Readville, Boston
Readville, Boston

Readville is part of the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston. Readville's ZIP Code is 02136. It was called Dedham Low Plains from 1655 until it was renamed after the mill owner James Read in 1847. It was part of Dedham until 1867. It is served by Readville station on the MBTA Commuter Rail. It is on the original alignment of Route 128, later part of a since-discontinued section of Route 135. Readville is bordered by the Town of Milton to the south and the Town of Dedham to the west. Paul's Bridge, which is at the neighborhood's entrance as one approaches Milton, is one of the oldest bridges in the Commonwealth. The name comes from James Read, a resident and cotton mill owner. Readville is covered by Boston Police Department District E-18 in Hyde Park and a fire station on Neponset Valley Parkway houses Boston Engine Company 49. Readville is also home to several light industries. Readville was home to Camp Meigs during the American Civil War, a training camp for Union soldiers, including those of the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry, portrayed in the film Glory. Another notable regiment that trained at Camp Meigs was the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, half of which was recruited in California and sent by sea to Readville for training before being sent to Virginia to the war. There are plaques and small monuments commemorating this history at what is now called Meigs Field. Also established in 1861 was Camp Massasoit.The neighborhood was an Irish-American and Italian-American stronghold through much of the 20th century but is now home to many African-American and Hispanic and Latino residents. The Blue Hill Community Church is a non-denominational church founded in 1888. At BHCC, Phillips Brooks preached his last sermon and his Christmas Carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" had its first performance. Samuel Francis Smith first read his poem "America" at BHCC; it was later set to music and became known as "My Country Tis of Thee." St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church serves as the local parish. Former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Massachusetts State Representative Angelo Scaccia are both longtime Readville residents. In the early part of the 20th century, a prominent harness racing facility called Readville Trotting Park was located in the neighborhood. That property later became a Stop & Shop warehouse and distribution center and is now a multi-use warehouse property. Readville has excellent views of Great Blue Hill and the Blue Hills Reservation and has a wetlands area known as Fowl Meadow. The Neponset River is another natural feature. Readville was also home to the massive New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Locomotive and Car Shops, which closed in 1960. Today, the CSX Railroad operates a portion of the Readville Freight Yard along Prescott Street .The MBTA Commuter Rail has a passenger car facility for light maintenance and servicing just outside Wolcott Square. Amtrak's Northeast Corridor runs through Readville on trackage shared with MBTA Commuter and CSX freight operations.