Dan Helt brings storybook light displays to Endicott

Year after year, Endicott has a fantastic Christmas lights display at one house in particular. Camels are making their way down a hill to a nativity; carolers are singing outside a lit church; soldiers are saluting; Snoopy is flying and Santa is driving a golf cart.

All are created by Dan Helt.

Helt has lived in Endicott his entire life, except for his time serving in the U.S. Army in 1968. Even while he was teaching in Cheney, Helt came down to help his parents on the farm over the weekends and during the summer.

Now retired, Helt was an art teacher at Cheney Junior High school for 28 years. He taught pottery, painting, photoshop, even computers and drivers education. Helt also spent time as a basketball coach.

Helt has been putting up Christmas light displays in Endicott since 1995. That year, his mother had bought one reindeer display and he made two more and a sleigh to go with it. Since then they have grown their collection.

Helt did his first animated piece, Santa being pulled by reindeer, in 1998.

Every year he changes and adds to the displays. They have dolphins splashing, penguins ice skating, tractors, trucks, trains, skating bears, geese in a pond, even some snowmen holding up the message 'Happy Holidays'.

Helt puts these in groups, creating stories and scenes.

"It's like painting a picture," said Helt. He has stories to go with each one.

Helt was inspired early on by a neighbor, Ray Huntley, who would put up a light display of his own.

"He started it, so I thought I would try it," Helt said.

Helt has learned a lot over the years going through the process. He's learned about their construction and design as well as some of the engineering behind the pieces.