MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — There will be no lights in Ann Street Park just off Main Street in Stroudsburg this year after the fire department announced on social media that the decades-long Christmas display would not be going up.
"You know it's not like we didn't want to do it, so I think everyone at the department is a little upset we are not doing it. It's just we had to make that decision this year," said Assistant Chief Mehmet Barzev.
He says the holiday attraction has been operated by the fully volunteer department since the early 80's after it acquired the pieces from a local family that started the display decades earlier in the 1950's.
From conspiracy theories to a lack of funding, fire department officials say they've heard everything as to why Ann Street Park now sits dark this holiday season.
"It's not really a funding issue, it's not really a lack of people issue as much as it's a lack of people that know how to do it," said Barzev.
The display includes elaborate pieces which weigh hundreds of pounds as well as an electrical system which is mostly still original from when the set was first built.
That takes about three days to put together.
All of that was no issue back when the station had more volunteers.
"We used to rely on a lot of our older members who are gone, not in the department anymore, moved on, or who have passed so, it's just trying to figure out a way to get around all these different obstacles," said Barzev.
While there are no lights in the park this winter, the department says this is not the end to the display.
"It's ours we are going to maintain it, we are going to do they necessary repairs," said Barzev. "We are not saying it's down forever, we all want to bring it back so as of right now that's our intention for next year."