White snowflake-shaped lights going up this holiday season on Freeport utility poles will go well with the decor outside Bridgham & Cook.

The store manager at Bridgham & Cook is thrilled that a Freeport business-community effort has led to the purchase of 23 large, white, snowflake-shaped hanging lights that will adorn utility poles in the downtown, and to be lit the week prior to Thanksgiving.

FreeportUSA, the Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce and the Freeport Community Improvement Association organized the fundraising effort that netted nearly $10,000 for the new decorations.

Jay Paulus, of Bridgham & Cook, located at 123 Main St., said that he appreciates the holiday lights that L.L. Bean hangs on its trees as part of its Northern Lights celebration. Businesses, too, such as Bridgham & Cook, the Harraseeket Inn and Abacus, dazzle with their decorations. But Paulus and other businesses in town still saw something missing.

In 2013, FreeportUSA retired the telephone pole holiday lights, custom made for Freeport by local artist Pandora LaCasse. The organization said the expense to maintain the aging installations had become too much, and it was decided to discontinue the downtown holiday lighting.

“Christmas is a special time here,” Paulus said. “You can’t take away the sparkle. You’ve got to have the sparkle back in town. It became quite obvious that we weren’t going to get the lights back up again without some money, because they’re expensive.”

Sparkle, of course, also conjurs up the three-day Sparkle Celebration that FreeportUSA sponsors, this year on Dec. 2-4.

Paulus was hoping for more snowflake lights, but is happy with what has been accomplished so far and will try for more next year.

FreeportUSA purchased the lights from Rileigh’s Decor of Pennsylvania. One Christmas star will be hung on each pole.

“I wanted 40 or 50 of them, but then I found out they only had 18 before,” he said. “We’re hoping to double that next year. I think these lights will be a wonderful addition. It was a group effort. We wanted to keep it very traditional, and white.”

Kelly Edwards, executive director of FreeportUSA, sent emails out to Freeport business owners, seeking donations.

“Freeport is a beautiful, historic village, and the absence of festive lights lining our Main Street has been noted by locals and guests alike,” she wrote. “This year, it is our pleasure to announce that FreeportUSA, the Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce, and the Freeport Community Improvement Association are collaborating on a town-wide fundraising effort to light up Freeport with a classic white light theme during the holidays. Freeport is sure to be a favorite family destination of the season with our unparalleled shopping, delectable cuisine, classic events and spectacular holiday lights.”

The three organizations offered special incentives for $1,000, $500 and $100 donations. In addition to Bridgham & Cook, the Harraseeket Inn, Chilton Furniture, the Hilton Garden Inn, Fiore Artisan Olive Oils & Vinegars, Freeport Village Station, the Freeport Community Improvement Association and Domino’s Pizza were significant contributors, Edwards said.

Edwards said that, following a FreeportUSA board discussion regarding the need for holiday lights, she contacted Stephanie Petkers of the Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce and Sande Updegraph of the Freeport Community Improvement Association to gauge interest.

“They agreed it would be a fun project to collaborate on,” Edwards said.

Edwards said the the town’s public works crew has agreed to install the new lights, mostly along Main Street but some, perhaps, on Bow Street, Depot Street and Lower Main Street. The LED lights are 5 feet in diameter.

“We hope families will come to see the impressive display,” she said.