New cemetery hill nativity being constructed

Last year was the first since 1983 there was not a nativity scene on cemetery hill in Cassville, and while an effort is being made to replace it, another 12 months is needed.

Morgan Williams, Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce director, said volunteers at Cassville High School are helping construct a new nativity scene, but they did not have enough time to get it completed and installed this year.

“We reached out to a Kansas company that does custom LED for drive-thru Christmas displays, but the quote we got back was $50,000,” she said. “Plus, it wouldn’t have that cool, nostalgic scenery. That’s what I always saw as a kid, and that’s what we want.”

Williams said the cost sent the Chamber Board back to the drawing board, deciding the scene should be fabricated out of wood like the original.

“It will also be easier for city employees to maintain,” Williams said. “Without their help, we couldn’t do it at all.”

In October of last year, it was determined the 38-year-old nativity scene was not usable any more due to the condition of the wood.

‘The screws wouldn’t hold in the wood, and the stables were held together with wire,’ Williams said. ‘It was so worn that parts of the wood would just crumble if you touched it.’

Williams said the Chamber will salvage what it can from the old scene, and the new one will have special features to make it more versatile.

“We had some calls last year of people volunteering to help, but we didn’t know what direction we were going, and we didn’t get that quote until this summer,” she said. “The camel is 14 feet tall, and it takes a backhoe to lift it into place and secure it. With the new one, we want to fabricate a locking system so it can be built as multiple pieces put together, which will make it safer for city staff and easier to transport.”

Cost of the project is yet to be determined, but Williams said it will be much more cost-effective than the LED display option.

While there will not be a nativity scene this year, Williams said the Chamber will still put a display on the hill.

“The timeline just didn’t work out for us to get it up this year, so we will again put up the Christmas tree and star on top, and the goal for next year is to have the full nativity scene up,” she said.

Merlyn Johnson, Cassville superintendent, said Robbie Artherton’s shop class will help build the new nativity scene, with students helping during the day and after hours on a volunteer basis.