22nd Annual Davie County Historic Christmas Ornament
This year the historical Davie County Christmas ornament has a new look! In keeping with this year’s Hometown Christmas theme “Celebration of Trees”, the 22nd historical ornament is a pewter ornament which captures the significance of the oak trees that define the square in Historic Downtown Mocksville as well as our community way of life.
This ornament was designed and dated by House of Morgan Pewter, owned and operated by Kent and Martha Morgan of Mount Airy, NC, whose pewter ornaments are featured and for purchase from Our State Magazine ©.
Ornaments on sale beginning this weekend
Ornaments will be available for purchase for $7.00 beginning November 16th, at 6:00 p.m., downtown Historic Mocksville under the oak tree during the “twas the Night Before” bed race.
Ornaments will also be available November 17 during the “Celebration of Trees” beginning at 10:00 a.m., during the Hometown Christmas Parade and until 6pm. Beginning Monday, the 19th ornaments will be available at the Mocksville Town Hall, Davie Chamber of Commerce and area merchants.
The description with this year’s historic ornament reads as follows:
As we observe our holiday theme, “Celebration of Trees”, we are reminded of that day in 1933 when Hugh A. Lagle and Ben Y. Boyles planted these majestic Oak Trees that have become landmarks of our great “Little Town” with a big heart. These trees are a gathering place for many town functions and receive annual checkups from a certified arborist. As a designated Tree City, these valued landmarks with their outstretched limbs, welcome visitors to Historic Downtown Mocksville.
The pewter tree’s branches extend out to everyone as a welcome and upward with growth and new life, yet are deeply rooted. However, it is known sometimes you have to “go out on a limb’’, take a risk, invest your time and become involved. In doing so, be confident there is a continuance of living and growing together within a community that provides support and nurturing all around.
House of Morgan Pewter
The Morgan’s interest in pewter occurred after visiting Colonial Williamsburg in 1978 after watching craftsmen working in pewter. They returned home and did quite a bit of research and then tried casting small pewter objects. They are entirely self taught, with trial and error being their major teacher. For the first 17 years this was a part-time adventure. In 1997 Kent resigned his job in accounting from a textile company and Martha retired from teaching English at Mount Airy High School in 2000. They both now work with pewter full time and have exposure throughout the Southeast. Our State Magazine features their pewter ornaments and some jewelry pieces.
The craft of casting pewter has been around for over 2,000 years. This art reached its pinnacle in Europe in the eighteenth century. The House of Morgan continues this tradition by employing the finest craftsmen in Europe and the United States to carve original designs for its detailed Christmas ornaments. Using these designs with old world distinction, the House of Morgan casts each ornament by hand, maintaining old world tradition and maximizing the detail, quality and beauty of hand cast pewter.
Resources:
Davie County Chamber of Commerce
Historic Downtown Mocksville
2012 Bed Races and Christmas Parade November 16 and 17