By Staff
Stewart’s Jewelry Store has spread Christmas spirit for 100 years
By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles &Features Editor
For 100 years, Stewart’s Jewelry Store has been an institution in downtown Washington. It’s also been a favorite destination for holiday enthusiasts on the lookout for festive Christmas decorations.
Stewart’s has become known not only for its merchandise but for its window decorations, as well.
This year’s theme is “An Old-Fashioned Christmas” in a nod to the store’s place in Washington history. There are swags of greenery tied with cheery red bows, and the windows’ centerpieces include a band of carolers, gingerbread houses, a sleigh filled with gifts and a manger scene.
The store gathers its decorations from various sources, according to Adams.
Adams confessed he has no formal design experience, but a friend recognized that he had an eye for decorating.
Adams sidekick — and elf helper — is Lee Wood, a college student from the Blounts Creek area.
Adams admitted he’s partial to this year’s displays.
This year’s windows are quite a departure from 2007 when Adams created what resembled an underwater Christmas scene.
Although the store decorates the windows throughout the year according to the season, Adams knows he has to put a little extra effort into the Christmas displays since Stewart’s has a reputation to uphold.
Adams said that decorating the windows is one of his favorite duties at the store, and the only real challenge is trying to make each year’s Christmas decorations look better than the year before.
Decorating for Christmas has been a store tradition for as long as Betty Stewart can remember. She recalls that her mother, the late Virgil Stewart, was very particular about the store’s windows.
The decorations have been something the Stewarts have always taken pride in, she added.
Stewart has a favorite memory of the windows created by her mom.