Palmer resident Dennis Katajamaki works in his basement workshop on his Disney characters for Christmas displays in the 1970s. (Photo courtesy

From benches and tables, from floors and walls and ceilings, the enchanted characters of dreams and imagination gaze back from their not-so-make-believe world.

And over it all, Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse, eight-footers, hold court in an unusual basement where an unusual man spent thousands of hours putting magic back into Christmas for residents of the Marquette County community of Palmer.

Around holiday time, any traveler who had to travel along the remote and wooded County Road 565 found an unexpected fairyland of music and lights, garlands and mythical creatures who cavort along the road and through the woods, and lined the drive to a gingerbread house inviting young friends and older friends to a land of magic.

Dennis Katajamaki, who was employed at the Empire Mine, started his Christmas with Walt Disney in 1973 when he was looking for something to do. He went into his basement and constructed Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from some plywood, enamel paint and a good imagination and creativity.

He lost two of the dwarfs, one of them was Grumpy. It seems that the dogs had an issue with them. But they got replaced with other pieces.

What started out to be a few yard ornaments for the holidays in 1973 grew into 200 pieces by the time the holiday season arrived. The traffic wasn’t heavy on that isolated road, but those who did travel it spread the word to family and friends. By 1974, the collection had grown to 600 pieces. Children as well as adults were delighted to view the display.

In December 1975, Dennis displayed 1,500 pieces with 95 characters and decorated the figures and trees with over a thousand lights and 500 feet of garland. When Dennis started, he just had a few characters two feet high, but eventually they got bigger. Every time he saw a new character in a coloring book or comic book, he went down into his basement to make it.

Every payday he bought plywood and paint. He cut the figures and drew the detail on the figures free-hand. This got to be a family affair, his wife Darlene doing the tedious work, and his sons Kevin and Dean painting stockings and candy canes.

After putting in eight hours daily and 12 on weekends, the display was ready five days before Christmas. At this time, Darlene was baking and freezing dozens of sugar cookies for visitors to enjoy in the gingerbread house. Coloring books, crayons and candy were given to all children, and coffee and cookies were a treat for the older folks.

The children visiting had a chance to enter their name for a drawing held on Christmas Day. The winners received a fire truck, a doll, puzzles or books. Dennis delivered these on Christmas Day. In 1975, he thought it best to mail the prizes because there were 64 towns and one foreign country represented by the guests.

He liked decorating for Christmas, putting cedar branches over the doors. He liked an old-fashioned Christmas, going to Grandma’s house, being with family, eating ice cream and exchanging gifts.

When people went up that isolated road, they expected to see an older man and woman. At the time the Katjamakis were in their late 20s. They put the magic of Christmas on County Road 565.

Like many things of the past, this too is now a memory.