The heart of River City is captured in this year’s holiday ornament by the Danville Historical Society.
This marks the 16th year for the nonprofit organization’s Christmas keepsake. The first one was the iconic “Home” sign, which used to perch atop the White Mill Building broadcasting that Danville was the “Home of Dan River Fabrics.”
When those letters came down, the historical society leaped into action to purchased the pieces of skyline history.
The photo for the ornament comes from a 1942 postcard.
The group decided to spotlight downtown Danville earlier this year before it earned a national honor, Danville Historical Society Executive Director Robin Marcato told the Register & Bee.
The 2023 Danville Historical Society ornament features a nighttime photo of Main Street from a 1942 postcard.
The River District Association was honored in March with the Great American Main Street Award, which “recognizes communities for their excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization,” according to a news release.
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“So it was serendipity,” Marcato said of the decision to highlight Main Street about a month before the award was presented.
“It is wonderful to see our beautiful Downtown reflected in the ornament choice for this year,” Diana Schwartz, CEO of the River District Association, said. “Our award-winning district has so much history, character and beauty worthy of recognition.”
In addition to the “Home” sign, the society has highlighted tobacco, baseball, Schoolfield and Averett University in the yearly pieces.
“We just wanted to do something because of all of the change that has been happening, and so much focus has been on Schoolfield” and other areas Marcato explained. “We wanted to go to the heart of Danville and that is the Main Street area because it’s been here since day one.”
The more difficult decision was selecting which photo to use.
The ornament captures a nighttime view looking up Main Street with stores including Belk Leggetts.
“I think we were very pleased with it,” Marcato said. “It’s a really pretty picture.”
The $25 ornaments are available at Foxglove Clothing at 1011 W. Main St., Vintages by the Dan at 310 Main St., Main Street Art Collective 326 Main St. and Karen’s Hallmark Shop at the Danville Mall.
There also are a limited number of past ornaments available.
Schwartz said the timing of the ornament make sense.
“As a community we have spent the last decade restoring the downtown and remembering our past in order to create a more resilient future for Danvillians — and our entire region,” she said.