Christmas Greetings!
We welcomed Santa and Mrs. Claus, a beautiful lighted Community Christmas tree, a festival of trees along with many animated business windows, delicious soup, WHS Carolers, a scavenger hunt and a lot of fun for the entire family this year at the Christmas Window Walk in Historic Downtown Wilton. Thank you to all who participated in this heartwarming annual event. It was a great way to kick-off the holiday season!
History of the Community Christmas Tree
The 40 foot Community Christmas Tree on the east side of the Historic Depot was planted in 1993 as a replacement for the original tree planted in 1922 along with the star which is now part of the Muscatine County Freedom Rock. Lynn Ochiltree brought this to our attention at an Alumni meeting, as it truly is the perfect tree to use for our Community Christmas Tree. The City of Wilton along with the Wilton Chamber & Development Alliance purchased 3500 LED lights for the tree and the City Municipal Light Plant put them together and placed them on the tree. Santa & Mrs. Claus visited with over 150 children during the Christmas Window Walk. Simply beautiful!
The Enchanted Bookshop Christmas Play
Thank you to all who came to the Alumni’s Christmas Play at the Masonic Temple. There was no cost for the play but the Alumni Group asked for a free-will donation to the Ministerial Association. The Ministerial Association is a group of churches from Wilton and Durant who reach out beyond the church walls to help those folks who are most in need through monetary help for shelter and utilities. This year I am proud to announce that the group presented the Ministerial Association with a check for $950. Great job!
Save the Date!
Since we are a merged organization and each group had an annual lunch or dinner we will combine the two into one and have a Wilton Chamber & Development Alliance Luncheon at the Wilton Community Center at noon on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 to celebrate our past year and present awards for Presidents, business of the year, install new officers and have special acknowledgements to the great volunteers who served in 2022. We will send out an invite with more detail soon.
The Community Quilt on Display
I know many of you sent in a quilt patch for the Community Pride Quilt which is now completed and on display in the window at 129 4th Street (northwest corner of Cedar & 4th). It will be a traveling display and will be at the Wilton Public Library starting in January.
Cedar Closet receives 1st Dollar
Pictured: Dee Clifton and Becky Allgood
Cedar Closet, a new consignment shop on the corner of 4th and Cedar Streets in downtown Wilton opened it’s doors for business. Dee Clifton, owner received the Chamber’s First Dollar. Her husband, who makes wood furniture, will also be bringing his wares to sell at the shop in 2023. Pictured: Dee Clifton and me.
Best Wishes for a Safe, Healthy and Joyous Holiday Season!
Becky