By Debbie Thomas
To The Haldimand Press
DUNNVILLE—The Dunnville Chamber of Commerce (COC) has dedicated this year’s Light Up in Wingfield Park to the memory of John Hart Sr. for his instrumental role in the design of each structure.
The Light Up displays in Wingfield Park were the brainchild of Carolyn Chymko, in her past role as the COC’s Light Up Coordinator. Over a number of years, an idea or theme would be taken to Vic Powell’s shop. In the early days, Powell’s Light Up team consisted of himself, John Hart Sr., and Shawn O’Neil.
John Hart Sr. would often be given just an idea, or concept, sometimes a picture, always something significant to the town of Dunnville. Hart would create the design, draw up the plans to scale, then hand them over – most often to O’Neil (a welder fabricator). John himself often added the lights, choosing the colours.
He loved contributing to the town and being a part of this project. Powell and family ensured all materials and shop time was a donation. As the light up displays increased over the years to 14, Powell’s team continued to design, manufacture, set up, dismantle, and store them; his generosity and contribution continued until 2019.
DUNNVILLE—Two of the light displays now ready for viewing in Dunnville, including a sign dedicating the display to John Hart Sr. for his role in organizing the display in previous years. —Submitted photos.
The structures now have indoor rented space at the Dunnville Airport, with a dedicated volunteer team to maintain the structures and repair the lights. Keeping with the goodwill Powell instilled for so many years, Andrew Griffin and family have taken over the massive task of transporting, setting up, and dismantling the structures.
The Dunnville Chamber of Commerce invites you to take a walk or drive along Wingfield Park to enjoy and reflect on the holiday season and those that made these original one-of-a kind-displays possible. View the Harvard airplane, train, Muddy, loving angel, Boston Bruin #18, two figure skaters, music man, Horticultural Society’s wheelbarrow, and the Legion’s ‘Never Forget’.
As a side note, the large ship needed a new mast installed to support its sheer size and will return in 2023.
Also a few structures were misplaced during changing roles within the Chamber and its partners.
If anyone can assist with locating the Lions River display, the 1959 Corvette, and the Lighthouse structure, please contact the Dunnville Chamber of Commerce so that the entire collection can be united, maintained, stored, and displayed along the river in Dunnville’s Wingfield Park as part of Dunnville’s Light Up for years to come.
