MARKING A MILESTONE — Susan Freshour, owner of Wilkin Flowers & Gifts, celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Wellsburg business with a Sept. 29 business after hours hosted by the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce and organized by Freshour and Puskarich Accounting. With Freshour, center, who has worked at the business since 1979, are staff members Marilyn Taylor, left, and Brenda Taylor. She also is assisted at the shop by Erin Lizon. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — With the help of a longtime friend and many others, Susan Freshour celebrated the 70th anniversary of the flower shop where she has worked for 43 years.

She and her staff at Wilkin Flowers and Gifts teamed with Debbie Puskarich of Puskarich Accounting and the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce for a business after hours Sept. 29 marking the milestone.

Freshour said she was pleased to see business owners, community leaders and residents of Wellsburg, Follansbee and elsewhere turn out for the special occasion.

She has owned the business since 1996, having started there as a part-time employee in 1979, under the late former owner, Elmer Vincent.

Vincent also had started out as a part-time employee at the flower shop, which opened in 1952.

In 2015, Freshour moved the business from the Wellsburg Town Square to its present location just down the street at 724 Charles St.

She said the new site has been a major boon because it offered much-needed space for the shop’s wide assortment of live and silk floral arrangements for many occasions, from weddings to funerals, as well as a variety of unique gift items.

The latter includes decorative throws, ceramic angels and other figurines, plaques bearing inspirational messages and vases with sports and other themes.

Freshour noted those seeking to spruce up their yards also will find yard lanterns, garden statues and other decorative pieces.

Freshour said the opportunity to exercise her creative skills is one reason she’s enjoyed working at the shop for many years.

Before coming to Wilkin, she had created window displays and advertisements for the former Denmark’s Department Store in Steubenville, Joseph Horne’s in Pittsburgh; and the Beaver Valley Mall.

A Wellsburg resident since 1999, Freshour said she’s also enjoyed living in the city, including the opportunity to go fishing along the Ohio River. It’s not something she’s often able to do, but when she does, it’s very relaxing, she said.

She has been aided at the store by many over the years, but her current right hands are Marilyn Taylor and Brenda Taylor.

A cat named Annie offers the three some company at the store after being taken in by Freshour, an animal lover who also has a dog and cat at home.

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