Published: November 01, 2009 09:07 pm      

Cards offer glimpse into Bluefield’s Christmas Past

BLUEFIELD — Greeting cards offering a glimpse into the Bluefield of Christmas Past are available this holiday season.

Each of the four cards, featuring a painting by artist Larry Akers, a native of the Bluefield area, is a holiday scene set in the City of Bluefield. One shows Santa Claus coming to town aboard the Ridge Runner miniature locomotive. Another features Christmas shoppers walking past the Colonial Theater: the classic movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” is on the marquee. In another part of the city, holiday travelers are boarding a train. In the fourth, shoppers are roaming the snowy streets of downtown Bluefield.

Proceeds from the cards’ sale will help support the activities of the Bluefield Fine Arts Commission, said Treasurer Skip Crane.

“The fine arts commission will use their profits to purchase Christmas cards, note cards and post cards,” Crane said. These include post cards promoting local events such as Lemonade Days.

A packet of Christmas cards with 12 cards and 12 envelopes is $15. The packets include three copies of each card by Larry Akers.

“The best deal is two packets for $25,” Crane said. “People can call 304-589-0302 or go to any bank teller’s window in all Bluefield, W.Va. banks.”

Cards are also available at Gary Bowling’s House of Art and the Mercer County Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Another project the Christmas Card proceeds will help fund is a new historic theme mural on the wall between the former Appalachian Power building and the former city hall in downtown Bluefield.

“We want to put in a big $5,000 historic mural,” Crane said. The planned picture is also by Larry Akers.