Appreciation for Christmas in Brown County

To the editor:

This letter is to express our appreciation to so many in our great community.

As mentioned last year we didn’t know where we could have worked or had the space for our decorations if it had not been for Maddison Miller, CEO of the Brown County Community Foundation. Our committee was offered continued use of workspace at the foundation building as well as a shed for storage. She along with Jenise Bohbrink and Sean Hildreth make it a joy to work there.

As many know we have collaborated with the Brown County Historical Society since 2015 to begin the season with the town’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting on the day after Thanksgiving. It was not possible to do this in 2020 because of COVID-19. Thankfully, the pandemic did not prevent us and others from decorating the town. Earlier in 2021, Brenda Young, Dorothy Babcock, Brown County Historical Society President Pete Bullard and Chair Bob Shook conferred and thought — while still watching numbers — we could make this a safe event for 2021.

At the Brown County Courthouse, once again, Dan and Deborah Gluesenkamp of Designscape generously donated the six trees around our courthouse. Habitat for Humanity volunteer Andrea Replogle along with Dan Waldhier, Kenny Wendling, Baron Wendling and Hawken Wendling helped secure the trees to the light posts and string the lights. Brown County Garden Club members Mike Arbuckle, Marsha Lafferty, Reena Oltman, Karen Reichert, Jeanne Shaw and Theresa Zimnawoda came again to help. Jeri and Tim Skinner pitched in as well.

We were especially proud to have some of our Brown County veterans: Keith Baker, Ric Fox, Bill Hamilton, Brian Martin, Buddy Mercer and Red Nastoff help decorate the trees along with our high school’s History Club members: Bradley Arndt, Kelli Branson, Austen Deckard, Annika Evenson, Hadley Gradolf, Cady Kemp, Kai Koester, Londyn Koester, Madalyn Purlee, Lizzie Roush, Rafe Silbaugh, Rhett Silbaugh, Samantha Smith, Anna Stogsdill, Anna Tipton and Katie Tipton with teachers Alecia Adams and Emily Lewellen. The History Club students then set out all the reindeer around the courthouse! Committee members Mary Ann Cline, Dan Waldhier, Linda and Kenny Wendling, Aileen Wineinger and Dorothy Babcock were there to help and oversee.

Once again we could depend on Ric Fox to do the light hookups and run the wires to the icicle lights, sometimes working with Andy Rudd. He also provided the help of Todd Barkes and Chris Grimes, who pulled the reindeer from the courthouse basement and hung the staircase wreath. Phyllis Carr provided the help of Dennis Fox, who hung all the town wreaths on the light posts which included Hawthorne Drive and Willow Manor. He with the help of Jeffrey Gardner pulled the town’s sleigh from storage.

Kenny, Baron and Dan hung our handmade swags and wreaths on the side streets as well as at the entrances to town. Syd Nickels beautifully decorated the town sleigh.

New this year was the decorating of the two trees on the west side of the courthouse. We wanted to dedicate them to two of our Brown County icons who made a significant impact on our community. One tree was for Abe Martin, a famous Brown County creation of Frank McKinney (Kin) Hubbard. Our other tree was for native Grandma Barnes. We hope you enjoyed them and could relate the decorations to their stories.

We were thankful to Bob Kirlin, who from his own personal collection, provided the shoes for Abe and a number of Kin Hubbard’s other carved characters, including Abe. We also appreciated Historical Society’s Rhonda Dunn, Pauline Hoover and Cathy Kazimier’s help in researching their stories.

Thanks again to Mark Shields, of Brown County Parks and Recreation, who provided the reliable help of Marilyn Rudd’s son Andy and Brian Faulkner at the Village Green. They strung the icicle lights at the courthouse and Village Green corners as well as set up the Village Green reindeer. Rotary once again provided and decorated the tree at the Pavilion.

Town Hall employees also helped. It was upon receipt of the traditional wooden nickels for both 2020 and 2021 that Brenda secured the town’s office help of Linda Ballentine, Mary Beth Fisher, Kathy Smith and Sandie Jones in adding the ribbon to hang them. Those who attend the tree lighting are provided with one every year to add to their collection.

The annual Tree Lighting at the History Center where luminaries lighted the way, Historical Society members — with help from the Pioneer Women — provided wrapped, homemade cookies and hot chocolate, once again for the price of a “Thank you.” Lu Brennemer, Wanda Lawson, Marcia Sled and Brenda Young were there to serve with a welcoming smile. Nashville Arts and Entertainment provided musicians Nathan Dillon and Chuck Wills who we greatly enjoyed.

Mr. and Mrs. Santa greeted the children with their parents and heard their wishes. They also had a chance to see a real life, old-fashioned Christmas tree in the Gnaw Bone Cabin Room. Mary Ann Cline had once again provided the tree for Peaceful Valley Heritage, which Mike Arbuckle cut down. He and Ed Wineinger then loaded and delivered it, and with the help of Robin Dunn carefully set it up. Lorna Reichman from PVH and the Christmas Committee decorated it with handmade ornaments and popcorn chains. The committee also decorated the Schoolhouse and Town tee. Pete, Bob, Alice Lorenz, Ivan Lancaster, Dick Frenzel and Vicki Faulkner help in many ways to make this an enjoyable time.

Please note that many of those mentioned continued to make sure all was kept functioning and then worked to take down and store everything for our next year. The Christmas Committee works year-round planning, making and repairing decorations and overseeing our undertakings.

Some months before we appreciated being contacted by Lisa Hall. She shared her ideas for the proposed Christkindl Market and learned about our undertakings. The timing and diversity for both events worked out very well, including our other traditional holiday activities like Stuff a Stocking and the Light Parade and Toy Drive.

It is with our committee’s heartfelt thank you to all for your dedication and continuous support. Even more so, you have made it an enjoyable time. It is a wonderful feeling to know we have so many in our community who want to make our town a special place for all to enjoy. We still greatly miss Marilyn Rudd, who loved Brown County, and will always be thankful to her and Brenda Young for their foresight in creating many of these possibilities.

Best wishes for 2022. Stay safe and well.

The Christmas in Brown County Committee: Dorothy Babcock, Mary Ann Cline, Syd Nickels, Dan Waldhier, Linda and Kenny Wendling, Aileen Wineinger, Brenda Young (Submitted by Babcock)