Since 1985, Clara Wall from Muncy has been placing decorative wreaths on doors at Muncy Library.

MUNCY – What a bright world this would be if in addition to everyone lighting just one little candle, they’d hang wreaths beautifying doors everywhere.

In 1985 while Clara Wall was working at the former Eagle Gift Shop on Muncy’s South Main Street, the walk home took her past the Muncy Library. “I noticed several neighboring doors decorated with wreaths and decided the library should have something attractive too. After all, this is Main Street where a lot of traffic passes by,” she said.

In the realm of decorating, Wall considers herself a novice. One of her earliest jobs was staffing the former Bryfogle gift shop at their greenhouse complex. “I picked up tips from watching floral designers who at that time were Richard Arthur and Ken Fry,” Wall said.

In her basement workroom, the budding wreath maker stores an array of supplies. Flowers, greens, twigs, ribbon and the like are recycled into new and different arrangements. In addition to providing wreaths for the four seasons, other wreaths have honored various holidays such as her final wreath which was hung last Friday for Independence Day.

As the library has two exterior doors facing Main Street, everything is times two. Clara has perhaps created close to 400 custom wreaths for the Muncy Library over the past 30 years. She and the library staff are hoping someone will step forward and carry on her tradition. Wall left some decorative items for future use. Until that person or persons volunteer, the board will be in charge of the creations.

Soon to be 92 years young, Wall continues volunteering at Muncy Valley Hospital’s gift shop where she fills bud vases and such.

Of her adopted town she said, “My husband Jack and I moved here in 1957 when he took a job with Sprout-Waldron.”

Clara was born in West Virginia, grew up in Louisiana and after the war, she and her husband resided in Peoria, Illinois. “I love this area; it’s so beautiful here,” said the crafter whose wreath hangings have added to the beautification of Muncy’s Main Street.