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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Friday, July 03, 2009 9:39 AM

Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald

Spencer Strickland, 10, Ottawa, rides his bike Tuesday evening past a porch decorated with an American flag near the intersection of Fifth and Walnut streets in Ottawa.

Patriotic yard displays grab attention

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

Photos by Elliot J. Sutherland and Courtney Servaes/The Ottawa Herald

Some area residents decorate their yards for the Fourth of July holiday. From top: Pat and Don Morgan, 700 block of South Main Street, Ottawa; Marty and Mike McClellan, 700 block of South Main Street, Ottawa.

It’s no competition for Patricia Morgan or Marty McClellan.

When neighbors ask if the decorations in their yards are a competition, the pair assures them that they’re not — they just happen to live next door to each other and both love decorating their Ottawa yards in the 700 block of South Main Street.

“She’s been kind of an inspiration for me, and I think I kind of am an inspiration for her,” McClellan said.

Morgan would agree.

“It’s a compliment if she likes what I do and does it in her yard,” she said.

The pair’s most recent displays — complete with American flags, stars and flower pots — have a Fourth of July theme.

Showcasing Ottawa

For Morgan and McClellan, their patriotic yards show off their houses and catch the eyes of drivers along Main Street.

“We’re a showcase for Ottawa on Main Street,” Morgan, who lives at 730 S. Main St., said. “It’s a complement to the town and the street itself.”

The house at 734 S. Main St. is special to McClellan — and is the reason she chooses to decorate it.

“I really like old Victorian-type things, and that’s one of the reasons I moved here,” she said. “Decorating is just a fun thing to do. It’s an escape.”

Important holiday

Decorating for the Fourth of July is a family experience for Denita Shirk.

Shirk and her sister decorated her Wellsville yard at 802 Poplar St., which includes a display of red, white and blue flower pots and an assortment of patriotic-colored flowers.

“We decorate every holiday,” Shirk said. “This holiday is particularly important — it’s Independence Day.”

Shirk’s patriotic-themed flower pots surround one fixture that many area residents have displayed year-round — regardless of the holiday.

“Our flagpole is always there,” Shirk said.

Sharing decorations

For Kathy Jordan, yard decorating is about her grandchildren.

“My grandkids really like it, so that’s why I think I still do it,” Jordan said.

Patriotic bunting, flower pots, flags and stars showcase her Ottawa house at 314 Elm St.

Jordan’s red, white and blue theme even spills into the inside of her home.

“I have all kinds of decorations throughout the downstairs,” she said.

Morgan’s house on South Main Street also features decorations inside.

“I’ll have people ask me what I’m going to come up with next year,” she said.

And being able to decorate her house for the community to see is something she takes pride in.

“I just really enjoy it, and I feel privileged that we’re able to do it,” she said.

Jenalea Myers can be e-mailed at jmyers@ottawaherald.com.