More than 140 years since the first electric holiday lights illuminated the winter night, The Trustees are keeping the tradition alive with Winterlights. Three special places from across the state annually sparkle in the brilliant glow of hundreds of thousands of LED bulbs that stretch for dozens of miles.

“So many people and families have turned Winterlights into an annual tradition,” said Brian Cruey, Trustees Regional VP of the Western Hills and Berkshires. “It’s very rewarding to build that connection to our local community and with those who come from across the state for this spectacular event.”

Yet this wintery celebration would not be the spectacle it is today without three important historical figures who brought the colorful assortment of holiday lights used today into the mainstream.

19th Century Origins

You might have been in for quite the shock when traveling by railroad through New Jersey during the holidays of 1880. Strung outside Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park Laboratory was the very first strand of electric lights illuminating the dark, wintery skies. It took two more years for Edison’s partner Edward H. Johnson to hang similar hand-wired red, blue, and white lights around a tree in his parlor window to officially mark the beginning of holiday lights.

As an alternative to putting lit candles on Christmas trees—which often led to house fires—Johnson proved that electric lights could be used to similar effect. However, there was still a great mistrust of electricity at the time and the process was extremely expensive, requiring a skilled electrician to install even the most basic set.

It wasn’t until 1903 when General Electric began offering pre-assembled kits that the colored string lights became accessible to the public. What solidified them as a household staple was Albert Sadacca, whose family owned a novelty lighting company in New York City. He convinced the family in 1917 to offer their brightly colored strands of lights directly to the public as “Christmas Lights.”

The idea was a massive success and a few years later Sadacca would form the National Outfit Manufacturers Association (NOMA), a trade association of smaller companies who all sold similar string lights. NOMA would go on to corner the holiday lights market until the 1960s, establishing the tradition of stringing expansive arrays of electric lights indoors and outdoors during the winter season.

21st Century Makeover

Winterlights is the pinnacle of this grand holiday spectacle. Across five weeks from the end of November through early January, Naumkeag (Stockbridge), Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens (North Andover), and Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate (Canton) transform into dazzling winter wonderlands.

“It’s filled with so much joy and such a festive way to enjoy the property,” said Pilar Garro, Trustees Property Director of Long Hill and Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens. “Winterlights is a great addition to the neighborhood and local community during the holidays.”

The seasonal tradition began in the mid-2010s with Illumination Nights at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens. A few weekend nights in December were set aside for visitors to explore the grounds aglow in holiday lights, a festive use of the space while the gardens are not in bloom.

Even though it was a small-scale event, the evenings were packed with more days needing to be added every year to accommodate the increased interest. The Trustees took notice, but it was only after the completion of a multi-million-dollar garden renovation project at Naumkeag that this winter celebration could be expanded statewide.

“There are few events and places that you can go where you know the whole family is going to have a good time,” said Brian Cruey. “We wanted to change that—especially for those who live locally—because it’s very rewarding to serve our community in this way.”

What culminated was Winterlights in 2018 at both Naumkeag and Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens. The sparkling light displays, custom laser shows, festive music, and seasonal treats took this already popular activity to a whole new level (and then some). The revamped celebration became such a hit that the following year Winterlights expanded to a third location: Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate.

Ever since, these three special places have hosted what is now The Trustees’ most popular annual event. Tens of thousands of visitors make their way each year to experience the special holiday delight that’s only possible thanks to the historic work of Thomas Edison, Edward H. Johnson, and Albert Sadacca over a century ago.

Discover the wonder of Winterlights firsthand! Attend this year’s festivities from Friday, November 29–Saturday, January 4 on Wednesdays–Sundays.

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