Walker County Historical Society is preparing for the Marsh House Gala by cleaning up the historical dirt at the house this week.

The Marsh House Gala will be Nov. 1 from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person, and all proceeds go toward refurbishing the house.

“The purpose of the gala is to make money to do these things,” Marjorie Craig said.

Craig said the historical society and other volunteers are cleaning every room in the house, as well as fixing lights and doing yard work.

“We are scrubbing and cleaning the historic dirt,” Craig said. “We are trying to put curtains in all the windows. The fireplaces have been cleaned out.”

Local florists plan to decorate rooms in the house for the gala, she said.

The gala will feature musicians Julie Mavity-Hudson and James Boyle playing period music. Hudson plays the flute, recorder, piccolo, cello and more. Boyle is a singer and accompanist.

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* The Marsh House Gala will be Nov. 1 from 6-8 p.m. at the Marsh House. Tickets are $50 per person. All proceeds go toward refurbishing the house.

* Tickets must be purchased by Oct. 25. Tickets can be purchased at the Walker County Chamber of Commerce at Walker County Civic Center on U.S. 27 in Rock Spring. Also one can purchase tickets at Mountain Company Gifts and Apparel, Cohutta Bank, Marsh House Community Task Force members, The Bank of LaFayette, Medi-Thrift Pharmacy and Ivy Cottage.

* Marsh House Community Task Force members are president Evelle Dana, vice president Joanna King, recording secretary David Boyle, corresponding secretary Lisa Lemza, treasurer Fred Roth and historian Connie Forester. Members at large are Fred and Emily Henry, Janice Fortune, Larry and Danette Martin, and Maurice and Mary McConnell.

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The Ivy Cottage will cater the event with main entrees consisting of a choice of prime rib, ham, chicken kabobs or salmon.

“We desperately need money and are making due until we have money,” Emily Henry said. “A contributor is paying to install a new furnace to heat the downstairs for the gala and beyond.”

Roper Corp. donated two ovens. Another donor gave a refrigerator.

Funds raised at a recent yard sale went to repairing plumbing, Craig said.

George Baker, owner of Baker Roofing, has been working on the balcony on the back of the house. Baker has also been making estimates on the roof.

“The roof is in bad shape and could rot out,” Baker said. “It needs a higher grade shingle, and everything on the roof is cheap. I need to put metal around the chimney (where the tar is wearing away).”

Baker estimates that even figuring in a discount, the roof will cost anywhere from $12,000 to $15,000 to repair.

The society is putting together a Friends of the Marsh House organization. Enterprises or individuals can sign up as a founder for $50,000 with rights to naming a room, facility or program in honor of the donor. Pioneer members pay $25,000 and up for naming a smaller room, program or service.

Other memberships available are Platinum, $10,000-25,000; Diamond, $5,000-10,000 and Gold, $1,000-5,000. All three reserve rights to a name plate in honor of the donor located somewhere in the house. All of the above memberships include entrance to the annual gala, free admission to the house museum and subscription to the upcoming newsletter.

Silver members pay $500-999; Bronze, $250-499; Marsh House neighbors, $50-99; Marsh House Friend, $10-49; Student/Senior Citizen, $5-9 and Children age 10 and below, $1