Heritage Center to host fund-raising gala

It’s a “B-Bop Hop” Gala and the public is invited to help the Heritage Center of Cherokee County Museum achieve the goal of continuing to present 150 years of Cherokee County history and to expand the knowledge of East Texas heritage to citizens and visitors.

The “B-Bop Hop” begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the HCCC Museum, 208 Henderson Street in downtown Rusk and reservations must be made in order to attend.

The theme for the fund-raiser is drawn from the fact that the Eagles Nest is one of the new exhibits being celebrated. The 1950s and 1960s eras also have the most Eagles Nest nameplates reserved, according to museum curator Betty Marcontell.

The other new collection being lauded is the Rusk State Hospital exhibit.

The covered patio will also be open for use during the event.

To celebrate the new exhibits, the museum is offering guests an evening of musical entertainment provided by Ian Chandler, a silent auction, a live auction conducted by Jason Ball, festive drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by The Daily Grind.

Some items already collected for the auctions include a cedar log for a fireplace mantel, a basket provided by Cherokee Animal Clinic, Cherokee Railroad tickets, Tyler Civic Theater tickets and gift certificates from various local eateries.

The museum has a credit card reader and will be able to accept credit card payments as well as checks or cash.

Those wishing to reserve a nameplate in the Eagles Nest room may do so during the gala. The one-and-a-half inch by four-inch plate allows for three lines of customized print, with a maximum of 35 characters per line. Anyone who attended or graduated from Rusk High School or any school that consolidated into Rusk is asked to consider purchasing a nameplate. It costs $100 for each nameplate reserved.. There are only 500 nameplates available for the legacy board, with over 100 already reserved.

The proceeds from this annual fund-raiser go towards supporting the operation of the HCCC Museum as the docent and curator are volunteers and are not paid staff.

The Heritage Center is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt corporation under the name Norman Memorial Museum, Inc.

To reserve a place as a guest, send a check for $25 per person to Heritage Center of Cherokee County, PO Box 974, Rusk, TX 75785. A name, address, cell phone number and e-mail address will need to be included with the check.

Sponsorships are also available at various levels: “Great Balls of Fire,” $250 per couple; “Peggy Sue,” $500 per couple; “Blue Suede Shoes,” $750 per couple; and “Johnny B. Goode,” $1,000 per couple.

The Heritage Center maintains a Facebook page, Heritage Center of Cherokee County, Texas, where pictures of exhibits are posted.

The Heritage Center Museum is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays and by appointment during the week.

To schedule an appointment, to order a name plate, or for more information about the Heritage Center; contact Betty Marcontell at (903) 714-8685.