LEWISTON -- It's a small town taking on a big mission. Working together to light up their community for the holiday season, despite a few setbacks.

"It's Santa's little workshop, back in business," said Art LaRose from his Lewiston workshop.

Back in business as the town of Lewiston works feverishly to rebuild what was once their winter wonderland display.

"We've got about 20 hours of time right now of doing it so far this week," LaRose said.

For nearly 10 years Art LaRose and his wife Nancy decorated their front lawn with elaborate displays. More than 100,000 lights, 240 decorative display pieces.

Three years ago LaRose donated the displays to the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce. They were stored in the Albert Township garage. But, two weeks ago after water caused damage to the garage, a township employee accidentally threw away the displays.

While some of the pieces were salvaged, inside of Art LaRose's garage it's become a race against the clock to rebuild Christmas in Lewiston.

"They said we want to do this and the community got behind them and there's lots of different people showing up to spend an hour or two to work," LaRose said. "It's really a great thing."

"It's very tedious work, slow," said Bob Foster who was assisting LaRose with the display construction Friday morning. "when it all comes together though it's all beautiful."

The work continues in a makeshift Santa's workshop in downtown Lewiston. At night volunteers from throughout the community gather to try to get as many decorations together as they can be December 4. That's when Lewiston will hold their Christmas lighting ceremony.

While LaRose says he's not mad about what happened, he says he's happy to see the community working together to show what the season is supposed to be about.

While some of the decorative pieces were recovered, volunteers are asking anyone who may have taken any of the pieces from the trash to return them so those pieces may also be included in the downtown's holiday displays.