A long-standing Leesburg Christmas tradition has received a second lease on life.
The life-size nativity scene was once a fixture at the old People’s State Bank many years ago. Now, thanks to the efforts of community members Sue and Craig Charlton, Pastor Mike Beezley and local artist Dannielle Robertson, the statues are better than ever. (see related)
“Now it looks incredible after the restoring and refurbishing that Dannielle Robertson has been working on,” said Beezley at a dedication ceremony on Saturday at Clover Park where the nativity is currently on display. “She did extensive research as she went about restoring this nativity.”
“I wanted to preserve them, most importantly, but their original beauty was more like a cookie-cutter palette. I had worked in Jordan on a film and fell in love with the colors and textiles of the region,” wrote Robertson, who wasn’t able to attend the ceremony. She was working with the Wagon Wheel Theatre on the set for the upcoming production of A Christmas Story.
“Having traveled in the Holy Land, I was aware of the blend of cultures and chose a palette that would have been used during that time period,” continued Robertson. “I made the selection of families of colors that would have translated into status and position, as well as the fibers and vegetable dyes of the period.”
“Dannielle is the perfect person in our town to be working on this,” said Beezley. “She worked in California for many years as a film and theatrical set designer, and she shared with me how she was immediately drawn to the nativity when she moved to town 10 years ago and saw it for the first time.”
The nativity, based on the Italian Fontanini nativity figurines, was purchased sometime around 1965 by Albert Heierman. It was displayed in front of People’s State Bank on SR 15 for many years, but eventually wound up collecting dust in storage.
When PNC took over the bank building, Sue Charlton took the nativity. Her son, Craig, along with the Plain Township Fire Department, have since been displaying the nativity at Clover Park in its original condition.
The revamped nativity will be on display at the park throughout the holiday season. Beezley said that more work and characters would be added for next year’s presentation, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the nativity. He stated there is an angel and several other animals that require more extensive restoration.