This week we learned the sad news that the Shenandoah Beautification Committee had come to an end. This group
was formed in May 2005 by Dee Sampson to beautify our community. Their goals were to beautify the Town of Shenandoah for the enjoyment of our citizens, our visitors, area businesses, and to increase community involvement and to be an economic asset for our town. We can say without a doubt that they met and exceeded all of their prescribed goals! For over 16 years this small group of volunteers decorated our town for all the holidays and seasons. We don’t have the names of the volunteers of the Beautification Committee over the years, so please share this post in hopes that former members of this wonderful group can see how much we really appreciated their hard work over the years!
We have to say we believe their most popular decoration was their Truck! They unveiled their famous Christmas Truck in December 2014. Since then, they kept it in place and changed it up throughout the year according to the holidays and seasons. Countless number of residents, groups and visitors traveling thru our town stop each year to have their picture taken next to their picturesque nostalgic truck.
Example of some of their other beautification projects include-
- Decorated Big Gem Park in Autumn and displayed In Honor/Memory Bows and decorated park for Christmas.
- Displaying Scarecrows and planted flowers along Rt 340 and First Street.
- Decorated and planted flowers throughout the year at each of the towns three welcome signs.
- Planted flowers in the triangle next to the railroad underpass on First Street.
Displayed below is a screen shot of the Beautifications website as displayed in July 2011.
“History- In May of 2005, by the request of the mayor and the Town Council of Shenandoah, it was suggested the Town needed to be beautified.
Dee Sampson volunteered to start this project and checked with surrounding towns of Luray and Elkton. After talking and visiting with them and online research with the State of Virginia Garden Association, it was determined that we needed something different. She gathered a group and volunteers together and the became the Shenandoah Beautification Committee.
Goal- The goal of the SBC is to beautify the Town of Shenandoah for the enjoyment of our citizens, our visitors, area businesses, increase community involvement and to be an economic asset for our Town.”
In honor & memory Bow article
http://shenandoahnewz.com/town-of-shenandoah/christmas-events/169-christmas-in-honor-in-memory-bows-2014
Link below contains many of our articles about the Shenandoah Beautification Committee
http://shenandoahnewz.com/component/search/?searchword=memory%20bows&searchphrase=all&Itemid=331
shenandoah-photographer-self-publishes-pictorial-history-book. Click link below to learn more about this exciting book, and it has several photos showing the Shenandoah Beautification Committee’s decorations around town. Makes for a very nice Christmas Gift also! >Shenandoah The Thomas Family Collection.
Displayed above is a screen shot of the Beautifications website as displayed in July 2011.
“History- In May of 2005, by the request of the mayor and the Town Council of Shenandoah, it was suggested the Town needed to be beautified.
Dee Sampson volunteered to start this project and checked with surrounding towns of Luray and Elkton. After talking and visiting with them and online research with the State of Virginia Garden Association, it was determined that we needed something different. She gathered a group and volunteers together and the became the Shenandoah Beautification Committee.
Goal- The goal of the SBC is to beautify the Town of Shenandoah for the enjoyment of our citizens, our visitors, area businesses, increase community involvement and to be an economic asset for our Town.”
This picture was taken February 26, 2009 at one of the Shenandoah Beautification meetings at the Shenandoah Town hall.
This picture was taken February 26, 2009 at one of the Shenandoah Beautification meetings at the Shenandoah Town hall.
This picture was taken on December 9, 2017 at their famous truck. Left to right are Susie Stepp, Amenda Wood & Sharon Shenk.
This picture was posted on December 22, 2017 on Rudy’s Diner Facebook page. With the following comments: “We want to personally thank the Shenandoah Beautification Committee for having their Christmas Dinner with us but more importantly than that we would like to thank them all for always making our little town so beautiful. These ladies are always changing out flower pots through out the town for the different seasons and adding decorations here and there and we just want to say Thank You, it doesn't go unnoticed!”
