Mayor Bo Dorough presented a proclamation endorsing the 2023 Easterseals Christmas Ornament which depicts “Wetherbee Planetarium and Science Museum” as the official City of Albany Christmas Ornament.  The ornament carries the official Albany-Dougherty County Chamber of Commerce endorsement. 

Easterseals is pleased to have “Wetherbee Planetarium and Science Museum” added to our 31-year collection of Christmas ornaments. The twenty-four-carat gold over brass ornament is the thirty first in a series of collectables.  Each ornament is numbered and includes a collector’s case, embossed with the Easterseals logo and a certificate of authenticity.  Only 500 of the limited-edition ornament have been created. The 2023 ornament is now available for purchase at the price of $25 per ornament.  

“Wetherbee Planetarium and Science Museum” – In 1974, concerned and community citizens championed the cause for revitalization of the historic downtown railroad depot area. Thronateeska Heritage Foundation, Inc. resulted from the merger of the Southwest Georgia Historical Society, organized in 1969, and the Albany Junior Museum, Inc., founded in 1959 by the Junior League of Albany. The Wetherbee Planetarium was originally opened in the old Railway Express Agency (REA) in 1980. A new Wetherbee Planetarium and Science Museum was constructed between the Railway Express Agency building and Fryer-Merritt House in 2008. The new building incorporated architectural features of the original 1926 Central Georgia Roundhouse on the facade of the building. In 1982, the Tift Warehouse (constructed in 1857 as the original passenger and freight depot), the REA building and Albany’s last remaining brick street were added to the National Register and listed as Albany’s Railroad Depot Historic District.

All proceeds from the ornament sales benefit children and adults living with disabilities or special needs in our community.  Ornaments can be pre-purchased online at Easterseals.com/southerngeorgia, by phone at 229.439.7061, Ext 1214 or at the Easterseals local Albany office at 1906 Palmyra Road.  

A large number of past seasons Easterseals Christmas Ornaments from Albany, Georgia and surrounding cities are still available for purchase at a discounted price of $20 each.  Past ornament collections are available for purchase online at easterseals.com/southerngeorgia, by phone at 229.439.7061 or at the Easterseals office in Albany, Georgia at 1906 Palmyra Road.  For more information, please contact Easterseals at 229.439.7061, Ext 1214.