Local News

Roaring ’20s

Fenton History Center To Hold 60th Anniversary Gala

The Fenton History Center is traveling back to the 1920s with its upcoming gala.

The 60th anniversary gala will be held at the center on Saturday, July 29, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the theme of the Roaring '20s. Food and drinks will be offered and activities will include music and dancing, a basket raffle, silent auction, and tea leaf readings. Following the theme, there will be a Speakeasy complete with poker and Black Jack played with Fenton Bucks.

Fenton Executive Director Jane Babinsky said the gala will celebrate the forming of the historical society.

"Approximately 40 people got together to form the Historical Society and save Governor Reuben Fenton's Mansion, Walnut Grove," Babinsky said.

Gov. Fenton's mansion was on the "chopping block" as early as 1958. The mayor at the time, Mayor White, was asked to have a study done regarding the stability of the building, and it was determined by 1963 that the building was stable and there was no reason to tear it down.

The Roaring '20s theme for the gala was chosen for a variety of reasons, Babinsky said.

"The committee chose the Roaring 20s theme because they thought it would be a fun theme for everyone and the '20s were significant because the first veterans group to move into the building was the Grand Army of the Republic -- GAR -- in 1923. There is a display of GAR items in the Drawing Room, which was the meeting room for the GAR."

The gala serves as one of the Fenton's major fundraisers for the year. As a nonprofit, the Fenton relies on monetary donations to maintain the historical collections, the building, staff salaries, and more, and they rely on funding from the public as well as grants, memberships, sponsorships and program fees.

This is currently the only gala in the works for the Fenton History Center, but Babinksy guessed that if they were to have another it would be for the 65th anniversary in five years.

Part of this year's anniversary celebration is preparing an activity for the 100th anniversary.

"Part of our Anniversary celebration is putting together a time capsule to be opened in 2063 for our 100th anniversary, which will also be the 200th anniversary of the Mansion," Babinsky said. "We welcome letters, business cards, photographs, and small artifacts to be placed in the time capsule. The time capsule will be sealed at the end of the year, not to be opened for 40 years."

The time capsule will be housed inside the Fenton Mansion.