Members of the Kingston Hot Water Heater Committee stand around the hot water heater placed in the front yard of Rob and Jackie Jacobs on Second Avenue, Kingston.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
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Rob Jacobs steps out of his house to find the water heater on his lawn. Rob is the 40th person to receive the honor.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
The Kingston Water Heater Committee greets Rob Jacobs as he steps out of his door.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Tom Paratore of the Kingston Water Committee tells Rob Jacobs how to adjust the lights covering the water heater.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
The water heater sits in the front yard of Rob and Jackie Jacobs on Second Ave. in Kingston.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Rob Jacobs stands with John McGlynn, the first recipient of the water heater, who lives accross the street from the Jacobs.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
KINGSTON — Borough Councilman Robert Jacobs has a new Christmas decoration on his lawn at 105 Second Ave.
But it wasn’t put there by him or his family.
The old water heater, decked out like a Christmas tree with colorful lights and ornaments, was delivered via a boisterous parade of friends and neighbors on Tuesday night — all part of a tradition dating back to 1984.
The group of about 35 volunteers, as always, first held a clandestine meeting to discuss who would be worthy of the water heater. After much deliberation, the group piled into their vehicles and paraded around Kingston, with the oversized lawn ornament in tow to surprise this year’s unsuspecting honoree.
“We are thrilled to be honored as this year’s recipient of the water heater,” Jacobs said. “It means a lot to us to join this group and be part of the tradition.”
The water heater comes completely decorated for Christmas. The group of men delivering it stood and sang Christmas carols — at least the ones to which they could remember the words.
According to tradition, the recipient must keep the water heater on their front lawn and light it every night until after the new year. If they fail to comply, they have to keep the water heater on their front lawn for a second year.
Jacobs said he will be sure to comply with the rules and keep it lit up for the holidays every night.
The tradition began in 1984, when plumber John McGlynn, who was present Tuesday night, replaced a water heater for the late Tom Lahart on Loveland Avenue.
When Lahart didn’t pay a $10 fee to remove the old one, McGlynn decided to leave it on Lahart’s lawn.
He would later have some friends go back and decorate it as a Christmas joke, and a local legend was born.
Past recipients
1984: John McGlynn
1985: Kevin Boylan
1986: Jim Clarke
1987: Charles Burns
1988: Gordon Dussinger
1989: Barry Blannet
1990: Paul Roberts
1991: Barney O’Donnell
1992: Terry McGinley
1993: Frank “Bunky” Sorochak
1994: Frank Hill
1995: Ned Delaney
1996: Dan Beky
1997: Nick Volpetti
1998: Tom O’Connor
1999: No recipient
2000: Al ‘Shorty’ Cuba
2001: Doug Rush
2002: Tom Leary
2003: Charlie Dugan
2004: Jack Coslett
2005: Stan Motyka
2006: Sterling Rush
2007: Bill Mericle
2008: John Sromovsky
2009: Tom Paratore
2010: Mike Connolly
2011: Jeff Coslett
2012: Gary Michak
2013: Rich Stefanides
2014: Betty Lahart
2015: Bob Guyette
2016: Maurice Grimes
2017: Richard Pries
2018: Anthony Dicton
2019: Corey Pries
2020: Dr. Fred Lombardo
2021: John & Marie Romanoski
2022: Chaz Balogh
2023: Paul Keating