Silent Auction To Be Held To Restore Historic Building

By CHERYL JENSEN

The Progress

A silent auction is being held to raise money for the restoration of the historic Relief Society Building in Mesquite. A drawing will be held on May 7 following the Mesquite Days Parade. Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. Tickets are available at the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum or at the Family Fun night at the Recreation Center west field on Wednesday, May 4 from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m.

Donated items for the auction that include a round stain glass mirror, vase with branches, wood etching of the Relief Society House, photograph of southern Utah area by Greg Murray, a stuffed pheasant, a large decorated vase, landscape of Virgin Valley by Geraldine Zarate, a wall clock and a painted, lacquered milk can.

Entrants can select which items they would like by dropping their ticket stub into the numbered jars that correspond to the item they would like.

All funds raised will help make it possible to restore the Relief Society House a pioneer home now located on the east side of Willow Street near downtown Mesquite. The home needs painting inside and out and the floors need restoration.

When the home is restored, it will be open for public tours that will tell the stories of the settling of Virgin Valley. The adjacent home will also be restored and there are plans to plant trees and a garden on the property. Recently the historic home was moved from its original spot on the west side of Willow Street and set on its current foundation. It is now ready for additional restoration.

The home was originally dedicated in February 1929 to be used by the women of the valley as a meeting place. There they would gather for quilting and teaching classes in domestic skills such as food preservation, sewing, and quilting.

The women of the community raised the money to build the structure by growing cotton and selling it in St. George at the cotton mill, in exchange for fabric to make quilts that were then sold. They also had bake sales and put on plays to raise the funds necessary. They also collected food and stored it until it was given to those in need.

The Virgin Valley Heritage Museucm is located at 35 W. Mesquite Blvd. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am – 4:00 pm. For more information, call the museum at 702-346-5705.