Since 1991, the City of Bainbridge Downtown Development office has had a tradition of selling commemorative ornaments created by Mrs. Mary Cox, of historic buildings, churches, and parks in the downtown area.  Mrs. Mary was a very accomplished artist who volunteered her incredible talent every year to make each ornament a treasure.  She completed many of these ornaments with her distinctive signature which made them even more valuable at no extra charge.  Sometimes all good things come to an end because we have used Mrs. Mary’s collection of pen and ink drawings that feature historic landmarks. 

However, the City of Bainbridge Downtown Development office is pleased to announce plans for its new Christmas ornament collection.  The new collection will feature an oil painting of various Bainbridge landscapes and iconic landmarks on a flat metal ornament from lifelong Bainbridge resident and native, Ashley Long. 

Beginning with the Holiday Open House on Sunday, November 19, you will have the opportunity to purchase the city’s newest ornament collection featuring Ashley’s oil painting of the Flint River Train Trestle.  Individual ornaments featuring Cox’s pen and ink sketches can be purchased for $8 each, or the complete 27-year collection can be purchased for $200.  The Downtown Development Authority will continue to keep an inventory of all the ornaments at City Hall. 

Holiday Open House begins at 1 p.m. with Ashley Long signing the ornaments in Willis Park, continuing the long-standing tradition begun by Mrs. Mary Cox.