Nov 18, 2002 By Christine Haines 2 min read

BROWNSVILLE – For the past 20 years, bits of Brownsville’s history have been brightening the holidays through collector Christmas ornaments sold by the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce. The 20th edition ornament designed for this year features a three-color drawing of the new Brownsville Wharf Riverside Park on a frosted white glass bulb.

“It’s amazing how many people brag about having all 20,” said Scott Bowman, vice president of the chamber. “A lot of them are sold at class reunions.”

Bowman said the chamber tries to focus on historic elements of the community for the design each year.

“A lot of them are then and now,” Bowman said.

The chamber wanted to feature pictures of both the old wharf and the new wharf on this year’s ornament, but a suitable picture of the old wharf couldn’t be found. Past ornaments have featured the old Brownsville high school and the current high school, and the old hospital and the current hospital. Bowman said that with the history of the area, he doesn’t expect the chamber to run out of ideas any time soon.

“We already have some suggestions for next year,” Bowman said.

Bowman said a few past editions are still available at the Flatiron Building Heritage Center and at some of stores that belong to the chamber. This year’s ornaments are being sold at the chamber office located inside the Bowman Insurance Agency on Market Street, the Brownsville Free Public Library on Seneca Street, the Flatiron Building on Market Street, Arlene Bellan’s Beauty Salon on Market Street and Ricco’s Bus Garage on Old National Pike. The limited edition collector’s ornaments are being sold for $8 each.

Only 288 of the ornaments are available this year, so collectors are being encouraged to get their ornaments early.

Funds from the ornament sales are used to support community activities sponsored by the chamber throughout the year.