Christmas in June? Local Taylor County, West Virginia nonprofit hosting ornament sale

GRAFTON, W.Va. (WV News) — A local nonprofit organization has already set their sights on the Christmas holiday and will be celebrating Christmas in June with an ornament sale.

What started from a single post in a popular local Facebook group has stemmed into an initiative between a Grafton native and Unleash Tygart.

"In the Fall of 2022 Grafton native, Lucas Shay, posted an image of his Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Passenger Station Christmas ornament in his popular Grafton, WV USA Facebook group, which garnered hundreds of interactions, many being comments from folks asking where they could get such a memorable item," Unleash Tygart's Heather Hudson said.

The beautiful and historic Baltimore & Ohio Railroad passenger station is the focus of a Christmas ornament being offered by Unleash Tygart, as part of a new Historic Grafton ornament series. The ornament was created by Grafton native Lucas Shay, who has partnered with the nonprofit for the sale.

With interest flowing in, Shay contacted the factory to see if more ornaments could be produced. Once he was given the green light, Shay decided to partner with Unleash Tygart to host and manage the ornament sales.

"It seemed like a perfect partnership," said Shay. "As a Board Member of Unleash, I believe in our mission of addressing the high-level deficits in Taylor County, and I saw this as an opportunity to meet a demonstrated want in the community, while creating a fun fundraiser for the organization."

Unleash began promoting the unique B&O Passenger Station ornament, and continued to receive a great deal of interest, leading to the expansion of the original idea.

"We’ve received such an overwhelming response that Unleash Tygart has now decided to host an annual series of Historic Grafton ornaments," Hudson revealed. "The first of which is the B&O Passenger Station, and the second being the beloved Willard Hotel."

After seeing great success and interest with the sale of a Grafton B&O Passenger Station ornament, Unleash Tygart decided to expand their offerings by providing a new ornament each year, that highlights a historic building in Grafton. Willard Hotel ornaments are now available for preorder and will arrive in the fall.

"This type of fundraiser and service falls so perfectly in line with our Unleash Tygart mission," said Board President, Alex Reneman. "As an organization focused on seeing our community flourish, we have a passion to see life breathed back into the Grafton Historic District that reveres the past while looking at the possibilities of the future. This is a small but perfect way to do just that, for those still living here as well as those who have moved away yet still hold fond memories of home."

Both ornaments feature three dimensional aspects and are crafted in brass.

"The Grafton B&O Passenger Station ornament will send you back in time every time you hang it on your tree, and the Willard Hotel ornament will pair perfectly," Hudson voiced. "Let these ornaments transport you back to the sounds of silver bells and sights of shimmery lights of the Downtown Grafton Historic District during the Christmas season!"

The B&O Station ornaments are being sold for $20 and may be purchased while supplies last. To order, please visit unleashtygart.org.

The Willard Ornaments are currently on pre-order for $18 each online through the Unleash Tygart store at the aforementioned website. Ornaments are expected in hand by Fall 2023, according to Hudson.

The remaining B&O and extra Willard ornaments will be available for purchase at the new Cookie's Old & New and Handmade, Too store at 35 West Main Street, which is set to be open in early July.

Links for purchasing ornaments may be found on the Unleash Tygart Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/unleashtygart or in the Grafton, WV USA Facebook group.

"We hope that you will take part in this fun and festive fundraiser that will help to spotlight historic buildings here in Grafton," Hudson voiced. "Unleash Tygart encourages everyone to follow their social media channels to stay up to date on ornaments sales, availability and unveiling of the next building in the series in 2024!"

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