What started with a few lights at PJ Morgan’s parents’ house has since grown into a glowing display at the home he shares with his fiancée, Margo Faherty. Their home at 92 Kings Highway has drawn visitors throughout the holiday season.

While the couple has seen cars slowing down or stopping to take in the display, they have had more tangible evidence that people are enjoying it as well. They have received letters and notes of appreciation in their mailboxes, including one from former state senator Len Fasano. Some people have even left donations, baked goods, or even a six-pack of beer.

“When we started putting them up, people would drive by and say they can’t wait to see them,” says PJ. “We had a couple lights we’d put up at my parents and I kept getting more. After we started dating, when I saw the birch tree here, I said, ‘I’ve got to light that up.’”

PJ and Margo started dating 7 ½ years ago. Both have been longtime residents of North Haven. PJ moved to North Haven in 1978, graduating from North Haven High School in 1985. Margo and her late husband purchased their home in 1994, raising their two children, who are now 27 and 25, in town.

Margo has always enjoyed the holidays and put up “some lights that I could handle,” when PJ moved in, he asked if they could put up more lights. Margo agreed and for the past seven years, more lights and decor has been added every year. PJ heads to the store after the holidays to stock up for the next year.

“I was already at Lowe’s and got some 75 percent off lights,” says PJ. “We try to do it different each year and for next year, what we want to do is already in our heads.”

PJ not only looks for lights and holiday decorations, but other items he could put to use. He recently found glass coverings for light fixtures on clearance and was inspired to create mushrooms. When it comes to planning, PJ has a general idea of his vision, but much of the installation is “trial and error and seeing what works,” according to Margo.

This past year was the first time that PJ had set a goal for lighting up their display on Thanksgiving night. In order to do that, the couple got to work in the middle of October.

Over the years, PJ has fine-tuned the process. The couple brings over the larger items that are stored in PJ’s parents’ shed and then hauls everything else upstairs from their basement, moving it around the yard with their tractor and lawn trailer.

“I do the roof first since it doesn’t affect the lawn,” says PJ. “My boss [at Carabetta Management] lets me borrow their bucket trucks. I start with a small one at first and work toward the higher ones for things like the birch tree.”

While PJ is working on the taller sections, Margo, who doesn’t like heights, works on the ground displays. This year, he constructed trellises for lights topped with swirly light trees along the front of the property.

Soon after his display was completed, PJ held a bonfire with friends and family. The two also note that they are “very thankful” for their neighbors who are supportive of the project and enjoy the lights. One of his favorite parts of the night was all of the people who waved to the group as they paused to take in the lights.

“I’d be out there adding to it and people would stop and say, ‘We come by every night because you’re always putting up something different’ and that’s nice,” says PJ. “You can see people slowing down to take pictures or videos.”

PJ, who is a delivery driver for Carabetta, actually took a month off of work in order to reach his goal of lighting the display by Thanksgiving. PJ also owns a limousine and “loves driving people around.” He had previously worked for Hunter’s Limo and Ambulance and when the company merged with another, PJ decided to get his own limo and start his own side business.

Though Margo can’t take a month off of work—she is a speech therapist at Clintonville Elementary School—she spends a lot of time after school and on the weekends helping. Margo loves hearing people, especially the kids, at school talking about “the huge light display” and knowing it brings people joy.

Over the past two winters, the joy the display brings to the community has been even more important to PJ and Margo. At the onset of COVID when people were in lockdown, Margo suggested making use of the lights.

“I had PJ put a big smiley face on the roof and even though people were on lockdown, they’d go out to drive to get out of the house,” says Margo. “Now with COVID still going on, people can hop in the car with their family and see something. It’s worth the trip to go out and see the lights.”

As both are in their 50s, the couple has started thinking about their next chapter and what they would like to do. They enjoy taking cruises and spending time with friends and family. Both still have many family members in the area.

With Christmas now behind us, PJ and Margo are beginning to think about taking on the task of taking down the display. Though it will begin to come down, residents should be able to enjoy the lights for a few more days before the holiday season is over.

“It takes a lot to take it all down,” says PJ. “We both love Christmas and it’s Hallmark Channel 24-7 for the season. This just took on a life of its own and it’s a labor of love.”