Lamp posts light spirits in San Diego neighborhood
Lamp posts in one San Diego neighborhood are lighting up spirits and camaraderie in addition to streets.
The light posts date back to the early 1900s in a section of Loma Portal. They were erected mostly in the middle of intersections forming mini-roundabouts.
During the winter holiday season, like Maypoles in spring, they become rallying beacons for neighbors living on the block who decorate them in ribbons, bows, garlands, ornaments and wreaths. In some cases, battery- or solar-operated twinkling lights are added.
People who live in the homes at the cross streets generally take on the Clark Griswold decorating duties. If a family moves away, the box of light pole decorations often is passed to the new homeowner or a willing neighbor.
Nanci Clifford, who lives at Locust and Freeman streets, said their lamp trimming has sparked a block party each year.
On Dec. 5, about seven families joined in decorating the lamps at each end of her block. Longtime residents Tim and Kelly Lane brought their popular spiced cider, and others furnished appetizers and Christmas music. The kids played while teens and adults transformed the poles into holiday attractions.
This year, one of the lamp posts was decked out in traditional Christmas colors with garlands, pine cones, ribbons, stars, ornaments and lights; the other was a vision of Hanukkahinspired blue, white and silver in honor of a Jewish family on the block that is preparing to move to Europe.
“It’s a really life-giving activity for all of us ... such a fun time,” Clifford says. Throughout the pandemic, their block’s lamp posts have been the centerpieces for drive-by celebrations marking birthdays and other special occasions — even a wedding.
If a block party is planned, a sign is posted on a lamp post. “We love our poles,” Clifford says.
In years past, the decorating has been spontaneous, but this year the tradition is taking on renewed vitality. All 24 intersection street lamps, along with four other historic posts at curbside have been transformed into messages of holiday cheer.
One carries a dog theme with dog bone ornaments and Santa’s naughty and nice canine list. Another is decked out in Christmas sweaters. A third has a nutcracker theme. A fourth is bedecked with candy canes. A fifth has wrapped presents around its base. One even plays music when a vehicle drives by.
The street lamps are on the north side if Rosecrans Street across from Liberty Station. They stretch from Curtis Street eight blocks eastward to Kingsley Street and from Clove Street four blocks south to Locust Street.
Matt D’Arrigo, the founder and former head of ARTS — A Reason To Survive, has lived in the neighborhood since 2008. About eight years ago, a neighbor handed the box of pole decor over to him. “I decorate it with my daughter, Tessa (age 15), and some neighbors. We make an event out of it and all meet up and do it together,” D’Arrigo says. “It’s a family tradition for us.”
This year they attached three wreaths around the
top of the pole, twirled garland and red ribbon down the post like a candy cane and tucked artificial poinsettias around the base. “It’s classic Christmas,” says D’Arrigo. “We thought about adding more to it but we like the simplicity of it.”
On Dec. 1, resident Corey Wyatt circulated a f lyer announcing a neighborly contest (lomaportaldecoratingcontest.com) for the best decorated street lamps, to be decided by popular vote with a deadline of midnight, Dec. 26. He plans to award prizes for first, second and third place on Dec. 28.
contest an annual event that culminates in a community gathering with hot cocoa and carolers.
He is a real estate agent who long has lived in the Point Loma area. He is very familiar with Loma Portal, although he didn’t actually move there until early 2020.
“For every year, as long as I can remember, there have been decorations here,” he recalls.
He says he’s getting a lot of positive feedback to the contest idea and thank-yous for organizing it. It has inspired some folks to freshen the decor and step up their game. Wyatt, who has kids ages 7, 9 and 15, joined three other families in sprucing up his lamp post.
Nancy Palmtag, who lives at Goldsmith and Locust streets says: “We’ve lived here almost 45 years, and it has always happened — it’s an organic thing.”
She and her husband, Herb, used to be in charge of the pole at their intersection, but they’ve let the younger generation take over. After all, some of the lamps stand more than 15 feet tall and need an extension ladder to access.
As for taking down the decorations, residents always un-trim the light poles themselves, says Waskah Whelan, who once decorated the lamp post near her Loma Portal home.