By Nila Harris, Reporter
Hark, is that Christmas music I hear coming from Jeff Dean’s Law Office building? Why, of course it is! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as the melodious sound of Christmas music streams through speakers on downtown Shelby Street.
It makes one think of another time long ago when Christmas music came from a different location in Falmouth…
For approximately 10 years, beginning in the late 60’s, the Falmouth Lion’s Club had a booth set up on the Courthouse lawn. Charter member, Dr. Pete Fullwood came up with an idea as a fundraiser for the newly formed Lion’s Club.
He had a booth built, electric was run from Ron Moreland’s drug store at the corner of Shelby and Main Streets, and Christmas music played while people strolled by.
Members would often go out of the booth to talk to people, hoping to “entice” them into giving a donation. Falmouth had a thriving downtown community, and this became the Club’s largest fundraiser.
Behind the booth was a large blue spruce tree, donated by Joe Kearns, a member of the Falmouth Rotary Club. Mr. Kearns had the tree dug up from his yard and transplanted in the courthouse yard. Each year, the Rotarians were responsible for decorating the tree. This tree added to the Christmas scene.
The Lion’s Club discontinued the booth in the late 70s as downtown foot traffic thinned.
Fast forward to the present. Rob Best, owner of Best & Associates remembered the Lion’s Club booth. In the winter of 1997, Best came up with the idea to play Christmas music from his building on Shelby Street. He thought that this would bring some joy in the hearts of Pendleton County citizens following the devasting flood in the Spring of that year. Jeff Dean and he set up speakers and a CD player and would start playing music right after Thanksgiving through Christmas. Dean said that he has gone through two CD players and an old cell phone over the years.
The next time you hear Christmas music playing on downtown Shelby Street, be reminded of a simpler time when people enjoyed strolling down the streets of Falmouth and stopping to talk, visit, and gaze upon a gorgeous Christmas tree and donating to a worthwhile cause. The Falmouth Lion’s Club is still active today, providing eyeglasses and help to needy families..