For over 35 years, Our Town has hung lighted decorations from the telephone poles along Boston State Road. In that time, we also began displaying lighted silhouettes in people's yards. Residents that worked for the phone company would bring in a bucket truck to do the hanging and removal, and the wreaths, snowflakes and silhouettes were stored in the the red barn that belonged to the Cary family. There was a whole group of people that maintained the lights - residents, including the Cary's and Herb Klein, as well as the Town's Boy Scout troop all supported the lighting.
Over time, Our Town took over the work, using Our Town's bucket truck and Parks Department staff, and placing a great big shipping container in the Highway Department yard to store the decorations. In 2021-2022, as a Parks Department worker was repairing some of the wiring, NYSEG stated we could no longer repair the wiring and that the lights must eventually "fade out" as the wiring failed.
A year or so later, NYSEG changed it's policy after a number of towns in mid-state NY fought back against that change. We learned of that policy change just this past year. Of our over 75 poles that support the lights, there are just 43 lit this year (2025). Some of the wiring obviously still works, and others are in various states of disrepair. There's an example picture in the slideshow below and all of the wiring needs updating to modern standards.
Recent discussions with NYSEG have allowed us to revitalize our lighting, however it's a rather expensive venture. With estimates ranging from $500-$1000 per pole, you can do the math. At this time, Out Town may not be able to afford that expense, so we're attempting to raise money to help pay for the repairs. The work designing the new wiring is almost complete, and once that's done, a request for electrical contractor bids will go out.
There's two ways you can contribute
click or tap here to visit the GoFundMe page
(they do take a percentage of your donation for making it so easy to donate)
- or -
mail a check made out to "Town of Boston" to:
Boston Holiday Lighting Maintenance Fund
PO Box 304
North Boston NY 14110
All donations go towards updating the wiring.
An example of the failing wiring!
The decorations in storage!
