Lynchburg shop owner working on Christmas wonderland

By Alicia Petska

Published: November 12, 2008

Teetering precariously on a tall ladder, Jim Wirt attempts to attach a cherry-red bow to the top of a glimmering Christmas tree. He succeeds, but not before overturning one of the antique toys decorating the festive fir.

 
What: Grand holiday display by local shop owner Jim Wirt
When: Saturday, 4 to 8 p.m.
Where: Villa Maria, 3021 Rivermont Ave.
Admission: Free

“Oooh,” he winced, peering down for his lofty perch. “I just killed a teddy bear.”

For Wirt, the past few days have been filled with nothing but twinkling lights, candy cane striped ribbons, and endless reams of garland.

The backdrop of this richly hued tableau is the imposing Villa Maria estate on Rivermont Avenue, one of the most picturesque properties in Lynchburg.

Wirt, a local shop owner, has been working since Sunday to transform the historic home into a Christmas wonderland. The results of his efforts will be on display during a free open house Saturday.

“It’s going to be magnificent,” said Becky Lipscomb, who’s been friends with Wirt for 25 years. “You’ve never seen anything like it before.”

Lipscomb, of Amherst County, had dropped by Wednesday morning to stake out a spot to take a holiday portrait of her 20-month-old granddaughter.

She chose the centerpiece of the exhibit, a tinsel-laden tree stuffed with antique toys of every description. Visiting Wirt’s annual Christmas display has become a tradition for her family, she said.

“We watch him every year, and every year he outdoes himself a little bit,” she said. “He’s the best in town, I’ll tell ya.”

Wirt, who owns a flower and antique shop in the Boonsboro Shopping Center, first began his grand holiday exhibit 15 years ago. It began as an in-store display and gradually expanded to outside venues.

This is only the second time he’s set up shop at the privately-owned Villa Maria, which has had extensive renovation work done in recent years but has not often been open to the public.

“I love it,” Wirt said of the large, Georgian-style mansion. “It’s got so much character.”

Inspired by the historic surroundings, Wirt made the theme of this year’s show an old-fashioned Christmas.

All of the decorations on display Saturday will be for sale, as will the furniture with the exception of a few pieces owned by the estate.

Villa Maria owner Dennis Gibbs has been marketing the property as a site for weddings and private events. Gibbs — a California man who’s bought up several of the city’s historic properties with an eye toward preservation — is also advertising the site as the Villa of Kriselea, a return to the original name given it by owner Philip Asa Krise in 1911.

The property, which at different times has been a private residence and a Catholic school, is best known locally as Villa Maria or the Villa.

Wirt — who also does holiday decorating for private homes and will be leading a seminar at the Festival of Trees — fully expects to be busier than one of Santa’s helpers in the days between now and Saturday.

Long hours and the help of friends will enable him get the halls suitably decked in time for the open house.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” he acknowledged, “but it’s also a lot of fun to see the outcome of it. People come in and just ooh and aah.”