SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO Flowers bloom around the roundhouse in Brandon Park on a summer day.

Just in time for Arbor Day next month, Victorian Christmas has contributed $1,000 to the Brandon Park Commission for replacing dying trees in the treasured park.

City Council recently passed a resolution to accept the $1,000 donation and first heard from Peachie O’Connor, of the committee, who read council a letter that was sent on Feb. 24 to the commission, signed by the executive committee and treasurer Tom O’Connor of the Victorian Christmas Committee.

The Victorian Christmas Committee has experienced great success in the most recent years of its Tour of Homes. The tour is held historically each weekend before Thanksgiving.

In 2025, the committee opened the event with an educational lecture about William Slack, an extremely skilled craftsman, who built many of the staircases in the homes throughout the Historic District. Slack’s home at 723 Park Ave. owned by JoJo and Sue Potts was a feature of the recent home tour.

Victorian Christmas also featured the popular Artisan Market at the YWCA, and the tour of the historical homes, churches and businesses. The tour included visits to the restored and vintage Rowley House Museum, 707 W. Fourth St. and outstanding musical performances in cooperative weather. Blessed with such weather, the event was considered to be successful with a great attendance with an estimated 1,700, if not more, visitors to the City of Williamsport from throughout Lycoming County and the region.

As a result and the continued success of the event and, in line with its mission, the Victorian Christmas Committee presented the donation, specifically to be used to replace some of the trees that are dying in the park.

“We wish continued success in your efforts to showcase a serene green space that features a variety of trees, beautiful gardens, walking paths, bandshell, and benches, a perfect landmark that preserves the rich history of our region for future generations.”

“How long has your personal involvement been on Victorian Christmas,” Council President Eric Beiter asked O’Connor.

“I was asked by Nan Young in 2010,” she replied.

She then acknowledged two of her friends from the committee, Doreen Decker and Suzette Meyer. There are up to 16 on the committee. Young remains its matriarch.

The committee began meeting in January. Three meetings have occurred for the 2026 Victorian Christmas.

“It’s always a delight to see what homes you pick,” Beiter said.

“I always get curious to see which ones might come up through the course of the year closer to that time,” he said.

The involvement Beiter said he has had over the years, volunteering in certain capacities, he said has been very rewarding.

“What I’d love to see is it’s not just Millionaires Row you focus on, it is the entire City of Williamsport,” he said.

One of the most popular this past year was the Potts house and the house on Railway Street and the Suscon & Diamond Drinks Inc., business and apartment, at 600 Railway St. owned by Anthony and Lisa Cenimo.

“We’re working hard on it,” O’Connor said. “I think we have our homes picked for the most part.”

“We’re happy we could come here this evening and share our joy and the donation to the Brandon Park Commission,” she said, on behalf of the Victorian Christmas Committee.