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Courthouse ornaments return

Keepsake goes on sale Monday



THE BELLS WILL BE RINGING­— Judge J.D. Clark and his staff will selling limited edition courthouse bell ornaments to raise funds for the courthouse restoration project. Ornaments can be purchased for $25 at Clark’s office beginning Monday. AMY NEAL/WCMESSENGER

THE BELLS WILL BE RINGING­— Judge J.D. Clark and his staff will selling limited edition courthouse bell ornaments to raise funds for the courthouse restoration project. Ornaments can be purchased for $25 at Clark’s office beginning Monday. AMY NEAL/WCMESSENGER

The holiday season is rapidly approaching and Judge J.D. Clark and his staff are pleased to offer a limited edition courthouse ornament again this year.

As a courthouse restoration fundraiser, ornaments depicting the courthouse were sold by Clark’s office in 2021. The community’s response was overwhelming and the 350 ornaments his office ordered were sold out within two weeks.

“It was a hit last year, and we think it is going to be a fun tradition to continue,” Clark said.

Similar to the state capital and the white house ornaments sold each year, Clark and his staff thought offering a new element relating to the courthouse would increase interest.

This year’s ornament is the courthouse bell. Beacon Designs designed Wise County’s special Christmas decoration to look exactly like the bell purchased in 1896.

“They took a photo of our bell and the patina is the exact same on the bell and the ornament,” Clark said.

Additionally, the back of the ornament describes the history of the bell and the still operating foundry that created it.

The funds raised through the ornaments will continue to provide for courthouse restoration.

“We do have the grant now but there will be other things that we won’t be covered by the grant as we move back in,” Clark said.

The ornaments will be available for purchase at Clark’s office, 308 W. Main Street, beginning Monday. The cost is $25 per ornament, which will be sold on a first-come first-served basis. After last year’s success, the office has ordered 500 ornaments to meet high demand.

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