Last Christmas House

Merriman family can stay until Jan. 1; mortgage unpaid since 2017

TORRINGTON — A Torrington Superior Court judge recently granted Christmas House co-owner Ron Merriman’s request for his family not to be evicted until the new year.

According to court records, Merriman argued before Judge James M. Bentivegna in November that “he has annually made a Christmas holiday lighting spectacle of his home that the community has come to expect and enjoy.”

Records show that Merriman, who represented himself in the hearing, said his being evicted “would be a disappointment to the community...”

The home was auctioned on Nov. 3 for just over $22,800, with the only bid coming from Webster Bank, the mortgage holder. Records show the family had not paid the $771 monthly mortgage since spring 2017.

Following the auction, Merriman asked the court to hear oral arguments on why the foreclosure action shouldn’t be approved.

He told the court that “the property has special historical and local tourism significance .... ” and “... a growing movement of local people are stating that they want to help save the property from the passing of title to the plaintiff (Webster Bank).

The court ruled against Merriman’s request for it to reject the foreclosure sale, but agreed to allow Merriman, his 87-year-old mother, Alice, and his sister, Donna, to stay in the multi-family house, at 285-287 Main St., at least until Jan. 1.

Superior Court Judge Dan Saban wrote in his ruling that Ron Merriman had a number of chances to enter into mediation, which could have prevented court action, but chose not to do so.

“By his own representation, he estimates that he annually spends thousands of dollars in electrical costs to produce such a display,” Saban wrote.

“Notably, by choosing to use his limited available funds for his annual electrical display, defendant has accelerated his inability to be eligible for options that might otherwise stave off foreclosure,” the judge added.

Merriman said on Monday that he has not received an eviction notice. He believes he still has a chance to save the house.

When asked when an eviction notice would be sent to the family, the bank’s attorney, Deborah Dorio of Farmington, said, “I can’t comment on ongoing or completed litigation.”

Leslie Hutchison / Hearst Connecticut Media Attorney J. Michael Schonyers held the foreclosure auction on the Christmas House in Torrington in November. The homeowner, Ron Merriman, who with his family is facing eviction from the house for unpaid bills, was granted a stay until after the holidays.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo The entryway to the Christmas House is where visitors wait to tour the house on weekends for up to two hours.

Leslie Hutchison / Hearst Connecticut Media Ron Merriman, co-owner of the Christmas House at 285 Main St., works on finishing the decorations for the Thanksgiving Weekend opening.

Leslie Hutchison / Hearst Connecticut Media Ron Merriman stands at the top of the stairs where visitors exit the attic gallery where hundreds of winter wonderland characters are displayed.