Main Street commemorative items still available
Main Street McMinnville officials have announced time is winding down to purchase commemorative items available to the public as part of the Main Street project.
With construction scheduled to begin in June, officials reported the items will still be available to purchase for several weeks, but many members of the public are rushing to get their names etched in stone and are purchasing a variety of commemorative items before it’s too late.
Items available are: engraved bricks, stone insets with historic logos, street trees with a fence and plantings, a decorative bench and streetlights and prices for those items range from between $100 and $1,250.
“It varies from week to week,” Main Street McMinnville director Chris Wilson said of sales, which will continue as construction begins but will wind down as construction progresses toward Court Square, where many bricks are to be placed. “Some weeks have lots of big-ticket items while others bring lots of bricks.”
Last month, purchases of commemorative bricks, stone insets, trees and planters, benches and streetlights totaled more than $28,000. That was more than triple the amount sold in February, Wilson said.
One example of locals participating in the promotion is the Pelham family. John and Gene Pelham decided to purchase 21 bricks and a stone inset for their family members. Main Street officials require a minimum of six bricks around one stone inset to be used.
Union Planters Bank officials have also decided to sponsor the sidewalk and other amenities located in front of their building for $15,000. The sponsorship will allow the bank to secure commemoratives around the bank, including the trees, plantings benches, streetlights, stone insets and bricks. Plans call for using the stone insets to chronicle the history of the bank.
Commemoratives are available through the Main Street McMinnville office at the courthouse or by calling that office at 506-5335.