*Rockwell Museum has started a new activity that seems set fair to become a local holiday tradition, joining such perennials as Sparkle, the Bath star, and the Curtiss miniatures show.

*We took it in the exhibit of “Artful Gingerbread Creations” on the day after Christmas. Gingerbread houses have long been a part of Christmas, so why not? And to add a little spice (ho ho), all of the creations are of well-loved actual buildings in our region.

*After looking over Fox Run Vineyards (covered with nonpareils) in the entry area we moved to the third floor to work our way down, and our first discovery was very familiar to us – First Presbyterian Church from our own town of Bath! The church is world-renowned for its Louis Comfort Tiffany interior, so the makers artfully showed both inside and out – the right-hand side was open to view, with only some rafters and supports in the “flying buttress” style. This lent the church an air of archaeological elegance, with a suggestion of “bare ruin’d choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.”

*Also in this space were Elmira’s Christmas House and the South Pavilion from Watkins Glen State Park. The colorful circular shingles on the Christmas House looked to be Necco wafers, or something very similar. The South Pavilion goes back to the C.C.C./W.P.A. era, and the makers did a great job of capturing the rugged stonework. They also whimsically filled the front space with animals cavorting in the snow.

*Down on the second floor in the Family Exploration Studio was a delightful recreation of “Our Temple, Kol Ami” in Elmira, by the Goldwyn family. A tiny rabbi holds forth, wearing his tallit, and the case includes a miniature Torah scroll, not to scale. The Corning Wegman’s bakery staff put together a fine representation of their store, complete with reindeer and sleigh on the roof. Label copy tells us something we didn’t know; apparently Corning’s was the first Wegman’s to have a cafe. Live and learn.

*Also in this space, a team of three makers recreated McKinney Park in Corning… slide, tire swing, basketball court, and all… though I imagine that the path in the original is not quite so colorful.

*Walking into the Southwest Lodge area I immediately said, “There’s a DL&W depot – and I bet I know which one!” I was right, so congratulations to Amelia Sauter, who re-created the Painted Post station, now the Town of Erwin Museum. Another Corning area scene (by Recotta and Wilson) was “Centerway Bridge Sparkle,” capturing the beloved landmark (including its maze) at Christmastime, with a tree at the height of the arch and Santa Claus kayaking below.

*A team of three created “Seneca Harbor Holiday,” based on the justly famous fishing pier pavilion. (Look closely, and you’ll even find the Seneca Lake Serpent). And the Judges Choice First Place Award went to Amber Colby and family, who expertly recreated the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse. Out near the elevator the kids can use a four foot by six foot “flannelboard” to “create your own winter wonderland gingerbread people.”

*I ran into the inevitable hazard of a gingerbread show, alternating feeling extremely hungry or else feeling suddenly, well, let’s politely say overwhelmed. There was one drawback. All the labels are below waist level, and they’re all mounted perpendicular to he floor, so you’ve pretty much got to crouch to read them.

*So, to sum up, this first outing is not a really large show (it will grow), but it’s very high quality, it’s fun, and it’s spaced out very nicely so that you can enjoy the whole museum as you stroll from spot to spot – my wife has very little interest in firearms, but she was arrested by the historic examples from Bobby Rockwell’s collection as we passed through that space. I don’t know if the local structures motif will continue for future shows, but it was certainly a great idea for starting off. I understand that the show is up until January 3, so check it out. You’ll get to vote for a people’s choice award, and you’ll be able to say that you were here for the very first show, and the start of a brand-new tradition.