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Pat Bicknell of Kettering holds a ceramic covered bridge that was given to her by her stepdaughter, which started her love of collecting and arranging an elaborate Christmas season display. Bicknell, 80, suffered an aneurysm in January has decided to sell items from the miniature village.Click to enlarge

A popular Christmas tradition in Kettering is ending.

Through Sunday, Oct. 19, the miniature homes, buildings and little ceramic people who are part of "Pat's Christmas Village" are being sold, piece by piece, and will head to new homes.

"It's a very emotional time," said Patricia "Pat" Bicknell. "It's the end of an era for me."

Pat, who turned 80 in September, said she suffered an aneurism and was hospitalized in January.

"I have been such an active person, and I golf, and play bridge with my friends, and love to square dance," she said. "But now I have to slow down for health reasons. At this time of year I always spent my days preparing the miniature Christmas village for display. I was really dedicated to making it special. It was my big gift to my neighbors, to the community."

The sale, which started Thursday, resumes at 9 a.m. today and Sunday at her home, 2242 E. Rahn Road.

The project began, she said, in 1989 when her stepdaughter gave her an elaborate covered bridge. "She said she hoped it would cheer me up a bit," Pat said. "My husband Jack had just passed away."

Each Christmas season since then, Pat said she has added to the display. "First there were 10 buildings, then 20, It kept growing and soon I had over 100 lighted buildings, homes and stores. I added streets, streams, little people, horse-drawn carriages, cars, an electric train and even an operating street car."

Pat said the display soon filled her living room and adjoining dining room. It was enhanced later with tape-recorded music.

"I am just too old to crawl under the tables and ramps to connect and care for all the wires," she said.

Pat said she could just not figure out any way to continue. "No one in my family is interested in it," she said.

"It was hard work, but it was always fun. There was joy in my heart when I watched how much people, especially children, enjoyed my little fantasy world. Letting these things go ... well, it just breaks my heart."

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