Hartford, Wi –  There’s a little Christmas magic tucked downstairs at John’s Hobbies, 54 N. Main St. in downtown Hartford, and it’s running right on schedule. Shop owner John Hetzel has transformed the lower level of his store into a miniature Christmas wonderland with nine different railroad displays. Among the highlights is a nostalgic trip back in time with a detailed recreation of Hartford as it looked in the 1950s and 1960s.
For several weeks each November, Hetzel gets busy fine-tuning tracks, wiping the dust from snowy villages and arranging colorful ceramic buildings. Once the trains are rolling, the displays come alive with tiny towns, holiday scenes and plenty of childhood nostalgia.
There’s even a familiar scent in the air, a combination of warm electronics and the unmistakable smell of burning Styrofoam from the miniature scenery. For some visitors, it’s another little trip down memory lane.
“This is our Hartford display with the Kraft building, passenger station, feed mill, power station, and all these things were along the Milwaukee Railroad Line,” said Hetzel. “It’s how I remember Hartford from the 1950s – 1960s.”
Photo courtesy Troy Fassbender
The real railroad ran through Hartford beginning in the mid-1800s. The Milwaukee and La Crosse Railroad were among the primary lines before eventually becoming part of the Milwaukee Road system.
Hetzel has been building his Christmas train displays for the past seven years. Along with the historic Hartford scene, visitors will find plenty of holiday charm featuring buildings and decorations from Department 56, the Minnesota-based company known for its detailed Christmas villages.
Miniature pine trees wear a dusting of winter white, ice skaters glide across frozen ponds, children play in the snow and Santa even makes an appearance in a balloon.
One display features two trains sharing the tracks, including a passenger train and the ever-popular Polar Express.
For Hetzel, the real reward isn’t the number of trains or buildings he’s managed to fit into the displays. It’s the smiles from the people who come to see them.
“It’s a lot of fun. I enjoy it,” he said. “The gratification comes from the kids having a good time and parents enjoying it.”
Christmas with Trains at John’s Hobbies is open Saturday and Sunday during the Christmas season from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
