Each year, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce reveals a new pewter keepsake ornament to immortalize a county landmark. This year, the honor goes to the Bear Creek Development Authority.

The 2016 Christmas Keepsake features the authority as the fifth in the series of ornaments. Previous years’ ornaments have featured the old courthouse, the Roxy Theatre, Northwest-Shoals Community College and Rock Bridge Canyon Equestrian Park. “Our Board of Directors selects places unique to Franklin County for each year’s keepsake,” chamber director Cassie Medley explained.

The pewter ornaments cost $15, and they came into being, Medley said, as a way to say thank you to chamber members, to “give them a little piece of history.” When interest in the unique keepsakes spread beyond chamber members, Medley said they decided to also offer the ornaments for sale to the public.

The keepsakes are available at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and may be reserved by calling 256-332-1760. Medley encouraged everyone to purchase this little piece of Franklin County history while they last – “Only a limited number of keepsakes are ordered each year.”