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Street Collierville Introduction
Holiday Open House
Christmas has come early in downtown Collierville! The merchants on the historic Town Square will be holding their annual Holiday Open House on Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11. Stores will be open from 10:00am-5:00pm both days offering holiday specials and refreshments. Saturday will feature various local schools and church groups performing from the bandstand. The big guy himself (Santa) will pay an early visit for those kids who have their lists ready.
C. J. Lilly & Company located on the historic Collierville Square has definitely got the holiday spirit. Main Street Collierville and the Community - Working Together Main Street Collierville, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization who works to promote, preserve and protect our historic Town Square, often looks for opportunities to work with other non-profits within the community. This year's Sunset on the Square Concert Series offered just that opportunity. Laura Todd, Executive Director of Main Street Collierville, has worked many years with Kelly Slemons of Pepsi Americas to have a Pepsi trailer and their products on site for the concert series. Pepsi generously donates the product to the trailer for the entire concert series. Main Street Collierville is responsible for finding volunteers to run the trailer. In comes Collierville United Methodist Church Youth. Collierville United Methodist Church Junior High Youth had made a pledge to raise $1,000.00 towards Ryan's Hope new park, Ryan's Place Playground, a universally accessible playground for all children regardless of their disabilities. The youth group had already held a bake sale raising $100.00 when Linda Stamps of Main Street Collierville approached Kris Konsowitz, Director of Youth Ministries, and D.D. Jackson, Junior High Youth Coordinator arranging the donation of items and stadium cups, they would run the trailer and the proceeds would be split between both non-profits. In addition, Tom Norris of Domino's Pizza was eager to get involved by generously donating ten pizzas a week for the youth to sell by the slice. By the sixth of nine concerts, the youth group had reached their goal and a check for $1,000.00 was presented to Corinne Derrenburger, founder and CEO of Ryan's Hope. By the end of the concert series, the youth had not only met their goal, but had raised another $1,219.50 which will also be given to Ryan's Hope. "I think this is a wonderful example how we can all work together in our community to achieve our goals," stated Laura Todd. "The impossible becomes possible when we combine our efforts." D.D. Jackson added, "While I was skeptical at first about meeting our goal, I never underestimated the eagerness of our youth. These junior high youth who are often overlooked have a passion and a drive to make a difference in our community. Of course, we want to thank Pepsi Americas, Domino's Pizza and Main Street Collierville who worked with us in meeting our goal." It's Christmas Time! Main Street Collierville Ornament Now Available Each year, Main Street Collierville commissions a collectible Christmas ornament. The 2006 ornament is of Fire House 1, celebrating the reopening of the fire station on the historic Town Square. Ten percent of the proceeds will go to the Fire Education Fund. Fire House 1 was relocated to its current location in 1946. At that time it was a one-bay station. In 1967 the station was remodeled and enlarged to add an additional bay to the North side. In 1982 when the Town of Collierville purchased its first aerial ladder it was decided that another bay was needed to house the ladder truck. During this 1982 renovation, all of the brick across the front of the station was removed and the original station signage and date plaque was discovered. While there had been hopes of reusing the original sign, it was accidently broken while being removed. In efforts to offer a modern facility to the community, the station closed April 1, 2005 while renovations where made once again. The interior was completely gutted. The truck bay added in 1982 was closed off and became the day room for the men and offered the first real entry to the station. The last piece to the renovation was the addition of a replica sign on the front of the station: "Fire House 1". The Fire Station reopened and was rededicated to the community on October 18, 2005. While the exterior appears rustic, the interior is a comfortable and modern facility which should serve the community for many years to come.
2006 Christmas Ornament Main Street Collierville first began the ornament collection in 1993 with a replica of the organization's logo. The 1994 and 1995 ornaments were one-dimensional brass ornaments. In 1996, a sequence was started using actual pictures of Historic Town Square structures. This group included the Depot, 1996; the Stagecoach Stop, 1997; The Bandstand, 1998; the Town Square Clock, 1999; The Church series 2000-2003 featured Collierville United Methodist Church, Sanctuary on the Square, Saint Andrews Episcopal Church, Collierville Presbyterian, and the Collierville Christian Church; 2004 was of the Depot; and 2005 of Collierville High School. Main Street has also received several certificates of merit from Tennessee Historical Commission. "Because Collierville's history is its most treasured resources, the purpose of the ornament series has been to provide lasting keepsakes of its significant and favorite structures," stated Main Street Executive Director Laura Todd. Ornaments can be purchased at Bank Tennessee, The Brooks Collection on the Square and from the Main Street Collierville office located in the Historic Town Depot. Perfect Gifts for All Main Street Collierville offers many special items. A gift certificate purchased from Main Street Collierville can be used at several merchants located on historic Town Square including The Brooks Collection, C.J. Lilly and Company, Courtyard Clay, Dee Larue Designs, Seasons at the White Church, Trendz and Wilson Furniture. Main Street also offers Mrs. Clarene Russell's book, Collierville, Tennessee: Her People and Neighbors as well as collectible ornaments, a Depot print, a car tag, notepads and more. Proceeds from purchases support Main Street Collierville. The mission of Main Street Collierville is to preserve and enhance the Town Square area as the heart of Collierville; that communicates a sense of community pride, heritage and small town wholesomeness; and provides for a successful business and residential environment. Main Street Collierville believes that if a community preserves the integrity of its heritage, that heritage will in turn preserve the integrity of the community. As part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Main Street Collierville vision is "to improve the quality of life by strengthening the historic district as the center of the community through concentrated efforts in design, economic restructuring, promotion and organization with a historic preservation ethic." For more information about getting involved with Main Street Collierville or about gift items, contact Main Street Collierville. Thursday Night Socials on the Square Collierville's Historic Town Square will be hosting "Socials on the Square" held the third Thursday of each month beginning April 20. Select merchants and restaurants will be open until 8:00 p.m. offering a nostalgic shopping experience. This event will have a very personal touch. Individual shops will serve refreshments as well as an opportunity to shop late. "We are hopeful that our guests can experience a unique, fun night of shopping," stated Janet Hawkins, owner of Chessie's located on the Square. Laura Todd, Executive Director of Main Street Collierville, is also excited. "I am delighted that the Historic district Merchants Association plans to host this monthly social. Our Town Square represents our heritage, which we must continue to promote and preserve." Extra parking is available on Walnut and Washington. Contact Janet Hawkins at 683-8433 with any questions.
Main Street Collierville Receives National Main Street Accreditation The efforts of Main Street Collierville over the past year has earned its recognition for commercial district revitalization by meeting standards for performance set by the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center. Main Street Collierville joins 625 other Main Street revitalization programs nationally recognized as 2006 Accredited National Main Street Programs.
“The National Accreditation means the Main Street program is meeting our national standards of performance for what a Main Street program should be doing,” said Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust’s Main Street program. “The organizations we name each year as National Main Street Programs are those that have demonstrated the skills needed to succeed in Main Street revitalization.”
The annual accreditation process evaluates commercial district revitalization programs based on criteria ranging from having an active board of directors and paid professional managers to tracking economic progress and preserving historic Main Street buildings.
“Rebuilding a district’s economic health and maintaining that success requires broad-based community involvement, active support from both the public and private sectors, and sound management,” said Loescher. “Having a solid organization at the foundation of that revitalization effort is so important to long term success.”
The organization’s performance was evaluated by the Department of Economic and Community Development, which is the coordinating organization for Main Street programs in Tennessee.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust was founded in 1949 and provides leadership, education and advocacy to save America’s diverse historic places and revitalizes communities. Its Washington, DC headquarters staff, six regional offices and 25 historic sites work with the Trust’s 200,000 members and thousands of local community groups in all 50 states. For more information, visit the Trust’s web site at www.nationaltrust.org . Main Street Collierville believes that if a community preserves the integrity of its heritage, that heritage will, in turn, preserve the integrity of the community. Main Street Collierville consists of two staff positions governed by a 15-member board of directors. Board positions are elected for a three-year term. An Advisory Board was implemented in 1998 to assist n the direction and mission of the organization as well. Welcome to the Historic Town Square! What is Main Street Collierville? Christmas in Collierville; December 2, 2006 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the Historic Town Square.
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