|
Paris trolley would add practical charm
By Connie Beard
Published June 11, 2009
Lamar County Chamber of Commerce would like to take Paris a step back in time, and is planning a raffle to accomplish its mission before the end of the year.
The chamber has its sights set on an old-fashioned trolley to provide public tours of historic sites and shuttle visitors to and from shopping and dining venues, something on the chamber’s “to do list” for a couple of years.
To accomplish the goal, a grandfather clock valued at $7,000, a 2009 American Cherry Stratocaster electric guitar and a $1,000 shopping spree are offered with raffle tickets going for $5 each.
The grand prize is a Howard Miller grandfather clock, donated by Gary Brown of Uptown Properties, It has a distressed rustic cherry finish, brushed antique finished dial with astrological moon phase dial and a brushed antique pendulum with decorative center disk. The clock is on display at the chamber depot foyer at 1125 Bonham St.
The second prize is a 2009 American Cherry Stratocaster electric guitar with a retail value of $2,200. It can be seen at the Chamber Gallery location at 8 W. Plaza. The drawing for prizes is planned for the annual chamber banquet in October.
“We want to be able to show people all of Paris,” Paris Visitors and Convention Council director Becky Semple said about the trolley. “It would be awesome to be able to use it all over town to connect historic sites and points of interest,”
A new trolley can cost upwards of $100,000, but used trolleys sold through brokers go between $40,000 and $50,000, chamber director Mindy Moree said.
“A trolley car is a great tourism draw for people, and we will be able to use this method of transportation at many of our conventions and events,” Moree said. “The trolley will enhance the experience people have while visiting Paris, whether it be in our beautiful downtown area or in our historical sites or the many shopping (and) dining locations.
“Paris has something for everyone, and we need to do all that we can to help visitors experience Paris at its finest,” Moree said.
Proceeds from concessions served by chamber staff members during the Archery Shooters Association Southwest Shootout the first weekend in April are now considered seed money for the purchase of the trolley. The five-day event brought in $3,500.
Raffle tickets, at $5 each, are available at both chamber locations and are sold by all chamber board members. The staff also will sell tickets at other venues, including the Red River Valley Music Festival and Tour de Paris.
For more information, call the chamber at 903-784-2501.
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print |
Letter
|
|
 |
|
|
