The delight is in the details
by Sue Mroz of The Review staff
“Corabelle Rosenthal is a talented artisan, and her 100-piece Christmas village is a keeper. I felt it had to be preserved for Plymouth.”
So said Ray Piper, Plymouth resident, about the Christmas village he discovered while browsing at the Hub City Emporium in Plymouth on Nov. 12. There he discovered the village, which Rosenthal, 93, a former Plymouth resident, and now resident of Pine Haven Christian Home, Sheboygan Falls, had meticulously painted during the 1970s and 80s.
She had displayed the Christmas village each year in the picture window of her former home at 404 South St., Plymouth. When she moved to Pine Haven Christian Home, Hub City Emporium purchased her estate, including the Christmas village and another set of ceramic snow babies she had painted.
Both sets attracted Piper’s interest. “Brian Franzen, who owns the Hub City Emporium with Troy Rudebeck, told me that Corabelle had painted all of the pieces,” Piper recalled.
“My interest then rose to a special level because of all of the buildings and the villagers, such as the skaters,” he added.
“Then Brian pointed out the railroad depot building with the word ‘Plymouth’ on the roof. I realized the historical significance of that building.”
Thus, Piper purchased the Christmas village and the snow-baby set and donated them to the Plymouth Public Library. The Christmas village is currently on display in the showcase in the upper level of the library. The sign on the display reads, “100-piece Christmas village, handpainted ceramic by Corabelle Rosenthal, Plymouth, WI 1970’s – 1980’s.”
