7TH ANNUAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION BANQUET AND BENEFIT CONCERT TO BE HELD IN GRAFTON

The Preservation Alliance of WV is hosting the 7th Annual Historic Preservation Awards Banquet in downtown Grafton.  The purpose of this event is to showcase historic properties in a community and present positive preservation stories statewide.  “Each year, the banquet is held in a different historic venue in West Virginia, and Grafton was selected after a tremendous show of support for the location during a social media contest in 2014,” explained Danielle LaPresta Parker, executive director for the alliance.  This year’s banquet and dinner will be held at the International Mother’s Day Shrine on September 19, 2015.  The banquet activities begin at 4:00 p.m. with a walking tour led by the Taylor County Historical Society.  The awards ceremony and dinner will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Shrine, and an old-time musical performance will be held at the Manos Theater following the banquet.

During the awards banquet, successful preservation projects from all over the state will be recognized and will receive awards, including Grafton’s own International Mother’s Day Shrine for its efforts in preserving Grafton’s Downtown.  “We are very excited to have the banquet at the beautiful International Mother’s Day Shrine and for historic preservationists in Grafton to to show their stuff to a statewide audience,” explained Parker.

This year will be the first time the alliance hosts a live musical performance as part of the annual banquet, and they are bringing old-time musicians include West Virginia native, Jesse Milnes, Nate Druckenmiller, Ben Townsend, and Andy Fitzgibbon to the Manos Theater for a special benefit concert.  “Part of the proceeds from each banquet ticket will go to the International Mother’s Day Shrine, owner of the Manos Theater, and will be used toward preserving historic properties in downtown Grafton.”  Banquet tickets cost $60 per person or a table can be reserved for eight people at $500.  “You also have the option of attending the concert only, as tickets are limited for the banquet dinner,” explained Parker.  “Concert tickets cost $10 and all donations will be given to the Shrine.”  So if you are unable to attend the banquet ceremony, you can head over to the Manos Theater at 9:00 p.m. for the concert and purchase your ticket at the ticket booth.

Tickets can be purchased online, or you can contact Danielle LaPresta Parker at 304-345-6005 for more information on how to reserve a spot.  The Preservation Alliance of WV is the statewide nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation.  To learn more, visit www.pawv.org.