City's 2011 Christmas ornament features First Presbyterian Church

The First Presbyterian Church on North Division Street is the latest in a series of Carson City historical buildings to be featured for the city's Christmas ornaments.

The church, built in 1864, is the oldest sanctuary in the state, said Pastor Bruce Kochsmeier, who attended the Board of Supervisors meeting last week where the ornament was introduced.

The ornmament is the 10th in the series since the city started making them in 2002. They cost $15 each.

"They really did it right this year, by giving Pastor Kochsmeier the first ornament, said Stan Jones, co-owner of the Purple Avocado, 904 N. Curry St., one of the shops that sells the ornament.

In 2002, the Downtown Redevelopment Citizens Committee decided to highlight unique Carson City buildings that have historic and architectural character, said former city supervisor and redevelopment authority chairwoman Robin Williamson, and each year, a limited number of ornaments is ordered.

This year, only 1,000 are being ordered, down from 1,500 last year, so Jones urged collectors to shop early.

We look forward to encouraging people to come downtown to shop and enjoy the historic preservation, and enjoy our local merchants, Williamson said. This was a good idea 10 years ago, and an even better idea today.

The ornament series has generated a number of collectors, Jones said.

Sue (Purple Avocado co-owner) and I have developed a calling list of 350 people or more we call every year. It is very popular, he said. I can't think of a year when it wasn't popular, and we've had a nice mix of government buildings, churches and homes in Carson City.

Ornaments from previous years are:

-- 2002 Laxalt Building

-- 2003 Nevada State Mint

-- 2004 St. Peter's Church

-- 2005 Bliss Mansion

-- 2006 Capitol

-- 2007 St. Teresa of Avila Church

-- 2008 Governor's Mansion

-- 2009 St. Charles Hotel

-- 2010 V&T Depot

Ornaments are three-dimensional and made of aluminum.

The ornaments can be purchased at the Purple Avocado.; the Legislative Counsel Bureau Gift Shop, 401 S. Carson St.; the Nevada State Museum Gift Shop, 600 N. Carson St.; and the Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau Gift Shop, 1900 S. Carson St.

Past years' ornaments are available through the city's Office of Business Development as well as the Purple Avocado.