COLUMBUS — The Columbus Historical Preservation Trust will hol an Holinday online auction from Nov. 13-17.
Funds will support CHPT’s “Save Our Opera House” capital campaign and allow the organization to make much-needed repairs to the Stafford Opera House. Building out the second floor restrooms and replacing the A/C unit in the Grand Hall are priority repairs. Funds from previous auctions have been uti- lized to remodel the third floor restroom, modernize the elevator and build a mechanical room, repaint the Grand Hall, repair flooring at a second floor en trance, and repair damage to the building exterior.
Over 50 items will be auctioned this year, including delicious homemade treats, holiday meals, gifts and decor, and unique dining experiences. All items have been donated by community members, which allows CHPT to maximize its fundraising efforts. “We are grateful to everyone who has donated to this year’s auction. Our success is because of their generosity,” said Doris Klaus, auction chair. “Our goal is to raise $20,000 or more to continue improvements on the Opera House. We would like to host more community events in 2025 and having fully functional restroom facilities and a dependable air conditioning system is very important to making that happen.”
“Once again, we are excited to see such a wide array of donated items for this year’s holiday auction,” said Julie Prause, CHPT president. “We have many returning local bakers and chefs, plus several new donors offering crowd-favorite holiday foods. We also have a unique selection of dining experiences and holiday gifts to bid on. There is something for everyone!”
“All winning bids will be matched dollar for dollar by a generous friend of CHPT,” said Melissa “Missy” Parker, CHPT executive director. “This means every winning bid will have double the impact on our fundraising efforts. This is incredibly exciting, and we encourage everyone to bid high and bid often!”
Bidding will open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, and close at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17. To view the auction catalog, interested bidders can visit www.columbushpt. org. CHPT will also spotlight a handful of auction items on their Facebook page www. facebook.com/ColumbusHistoricalPreservationTrust through the last day of bidding.
To bid, create a user account via the online auction site. Guests can also sign up to receive email notifications to keep updated with newly added auction items or outbid notices. There is no cost to create an account or view the auction catalog.
About Columbus Historical Preservation Trust: Columbus Historical Preservation Trust (CHPT) is dedicated to the preservation of the history and culture of Columbus, Texas. The all-volunteer Board of Directors hosts fundraisers and community events throughout the year to educate the public, enhance understanding of Columbus’ history, and encourage tourism. CHPT owns and maintains four historic properties in town, including the 1886 Stafford Opera House, the Alley Log Cabin and Antique Tool Museum, the Dilue Rose Harris House Museum, and the Santa Claus Museum.
Information about CHPT can be found at www.columbushpt. org.
Have Yourself a Tasty Little Holiday online auction catalog: https://auctria.events/TastyHoliday24.
