To the editor:
Now that the Christmas decorations are safely stored away, we want to thank all those who helped decorate our town in many ways. We also want to share a little history about how the efforts of a very special lady made a difference in our small community.
Six years ago, Nashville’s Main Street Committee formed a group of volunteers called Christmas in Brown County. Very instrumental in this task were the efforts of Brown County natives Marilyn Rudd and Brenda Young. Sadly, Marilyn passed away last year. Because of her love for Brown County, its history and people, she shared her many talents and ideas with the community.
A joint meeting was held at the History Center after a Main Street Committee meeting. Working with the town and county, the historical society was approached with the idea of celebrating Christmas at the History Center with a tree lighting and Santa. The Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Brown County Community Foundation, Rotary and several others became interested and involved.
The Christmas in Brown County group formed under Marilyn’s artistic guidance. The committee works all year-round making decorations for the donated courthouse trees and grounds, Village Green corners, Playhouse, town tree and History Center’s schoolhouse, as well as making wreaths and swags for the side streets and entrances to Nashville.
We thank the BCCF for having provided the work and storage space to do this. Prior to, Marilyn, with the help of her son, Andy, would overflow her vehicle with materials (also homemade cookies and special coffee) to work on and then take home each time we met.
Since the event’s inception, Designscape has generously donated all the trees around the courthouse and at the Village Green pavilion which Rotary decorates. Ric Fox has provided the electrical hookups at the courthouse; and with the help of Todd Barkes and Chris Grimes, the deer and traditional wreath for the stairs are pulled from storage. Brown County Parks and Recreation, with the cooperation of Mark Shields, has provided the daytime help of Andy Rudd and Scott Lucas to hang the falling snow lights and install the deer. Andy thoughtfully donated Marilyn’s eight deer that we have been using for the Village Green corners. Thankfully, Sean Cassiday, with the help of Dennis Fox, made room to store them. All this collaborating teamwork has served us well.
Habitat for Humanity volunteers Carl and Doreen Bochmann, Pastor Mary Cartwright, Marilyn Fagg, Mike Griffin and John Werner; police department volunteers Billy Pruitt, Ben Seastrom with son, Travis, and Uncle Ted helped install and decorate the trees. Anna Hofstetter with her daughter, Alanna, helped decorate, too. It was a tremendous help, and we enjoyed working together.
Once again, Syd Nickels decorated the town’s sleigh and taught us how to make new bows for the town’s wreaths. High school students drilled holes in the wooden nickels for ribbons to be added for hanging. The town’s staff secured the bows to the wreaths, replaced lights and added ribbon to the nickels.
Committee members Dan Waldhier and Kenny Wendling hung the handmade wreaths and swags. They also helped with other tasks, as did Dorothy Babcock, Mary Ann Cline, Syd Nickels, Marcia Smith, Peggy Thompson, Linda Wendling, Aileen Wineinger and Brenda Young.
Many thanks to the historical society for starting off the season with the annual tree lighting at our History Center. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, you will find luminaries lining the walk, music, Santa, candy canes and a wooden nickel given to each child. The Pioneer Women and a few others have provided homemade cookies, hot chocolate and coffee for the established price of a thank-you. Peaceful Valley Heritage has continuously furnished a live tree with handmade, old-fashioned ornaments for the Gnaw Bone Log Room where Santa visits. It is an event enjoyed by approximately 500 people. Be sure to mark your calendars for this year.
Finally, it is always heartwarming and rewarding to see our small community have ownership in Main Street’s Christmas in Brown County! And to think how much of this came to be because of the efforts and devotion of an exceptional and insightful friend to many. Thank you, Marilyn. You are greatly missed.
FYI: The Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau puts together a brochure listing all the fun Christmas activities, some of which benefit the community, namely, the Children’s Christmas Benefit Auction, Stuff a Stocking and the Holiday Light Parade and Toy Drive.
How blessed we are to live in this community.
Sincerely,
The Christmas in Brown County Committee (submitted by Dorothy Babcock)
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