Come for the Dinner Stay for the History
By Jonathan Copsey/ STAFF
The Roswell Historical Society will be holding several fundraising events this year, all revolving around that most central of human events – dinner.
The “Dinner Y’all” events have been organized with fun and food at the center of the activities. Society members and friends of the society have graciously donated their time (and often their houses) for the events. Money raised will go toward the continued operation of the society archives and research library and help pay for restoration work on the newly acquired Hembree Farmhouse.
“We were looking for a new, fresh idea for fund raising for 2008,” said Historical Society Administrator Sherron Lawson. “The Cobb Landmarks Society in Marietta does an annual event called ‘Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.’ We thought it could work for us and our ‘Dinner Ya'll’ is patterned on their event.”
First up is a St. Patrick’s Day party courtesy of Congressman Tom Price, who has graciously offered his home for the event on March 15. Be sure to wear your green.
A real Southern dinner will be held April 19 on the veranda of Barrington Hall. The previous owners of the Hall, Sarah Winner and husband Les Hunter, will give personal tours of the historic Roswell landmark.
Gentlemen, place your bets and ladies prepare your Derby hats! Mint juleps and traditional Derby pie will be the fare at the Kentucky Derby party held at the home of Society members Bill and Beth St. Jean.
An authentic Italian dinner and Bocce contest will take place at the home of society members Elaine and Allan DeNiro on May 17.
Roswell Mayor Jere Wood and Gwen Dinsmore take the lead in a canoe trip down the Chattahoochee River from Riverside Park to Cochran Shoals. Lunch, canoes, paddles and life preservers will be provided, so you just need to be prepared to get wet. The event will take place June 17.
Finally, dinner will be held at the home of Judy and Rick Meer, of Meer Electric, at Lake Lanier (assuming there still is a lake) on June 14.
Tickets are $50 per person per event and only society members can attend. To join the society, a one-time only membership price of $35 is offered for those interested. Some of the events have extremely limited seating, so events will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis. The Italian dinner has already filled.
“Early reservations stand the best chance of securing a place at their first choice of parties,” said Lawson. “Reserve early!”
For inquiries and booking information, please call the Historical Society at 770-992-1665.