Camp Sherman celebrates winter

Camp Sherman residents and visitors may be forgiven for slowing down considerably when they pass the Metolius Meadows barn this holiday season. At first glance, it appears the red wooden sleigh parked in front of the barn is pulled by fivefull-size deer. (Well, except for the little guy in the front, sporting the red nose. He's not as burly as the others but he sure glows.)

A closer look reveals that the deer are actually models - wood-framed, filled with a sawdust/epoxy mix and covered in burlap - but they do have real antlers on their heads. One of them even sports an antler score of 180 on Boone and Crockett.

The display is owned by Sparky and Polly Lisle, recent full-time residents of Metolius Meadows with a long history in Camp Sherman. The sleigh and deer are the legacy of Sparky's uncle, Hilbert Schnettler, who built the display in the 1950s. Starting in 1953 with the sleigh and just two deer in Lewiston, Idaho, Schnettler, a taxidermist, completed it the late '50s, setting it out every year in downtown Lewiston, delighting the crowds coming to view the display of lights in the town.

In the mid-'80s, the sleigh and deer headed over to Halfway, Oregon, where Sparky and Polly lived. There isn't quite the amount of drive-through traffic there as in Lewiston, but the Lisle's and their neighbors enjoyed the annual set-up.

The display had been in storage the last few years until Sparky mentioned it to Metolius Meadows Operations Manager Ed Young who suggested a new home for it at the Metolius Meadows barn. A bit of antler polishing and touching up of paint was all that was needed to restore the 60-year-old display to show condition.

Young created a space in front of the big barn, setting up three tall trees and parking the sleigh in front of them. A red and green spotlight shines on them at night and a string of white lights outlines the roof of the barn. And then there is that red nose on the little guy.

The Metolius Meadows Homeowners Association put on a party for the community on Saturday afternoon, calling it the Rudolph and Friends Winterfest. Attendees headed into the riding arena, transformed for the afternoon into a party room with long tables laden with goodies and plenty of beverages for all.

Entertainment was provided by the students of Black Butte School, led by former students Megan Ellsworth and Lani Fernandez. Both young women are part of the Sisters High School Americana Project music program. They have been sharing their expertise with the Black Butte School students for several weeks in preparation for the Winterfest and for the annual Christmas Program, which takes place in the Camp Sherman Community Hall on December 18.

Kathy Bourdage, one of the organizers of the Winterfest said, "We're doing this to foster goodwill for the Camp Sherman community." She added that there appeared to be many more people turning up than the previous year.

Rudolph and his friends did a good job.