The Woman’s Club of Murfreesboro, a local nonprofit, will hold its inaugural Legacy Gathering, hosted by The Alley on Main, from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, July 22.

This gathering of friends, old and new, hopes to bring a new awareness of the uniqueness of downtown Murfreesboro and the challenges and opportunities of local residents and businesses.

The Alley owners Shawn and Christy Hackinson are opening their business and their hearts on a summer Sunday afternoon to host this event for The Woman’s Club of Murfreesboro, said Jackie Jenkins, Event Chair for the Legacy Gathering.

The Alley on Main will be serving an appetizer bar of their favorites accompanied by a dessert bar of sweet treats from Simply Pure Sweets. Stones River Beverages will be providing wine for the event, and beer and soft drinks will be available.

Music for the afternoon will be provided by The Steel Blossoms of Nashville, providing soft country sounds. There will also be a silent auction of items donated by local artists and merchants with all proceeds benefitting the Historic Preservation Campaign of The Woman’s Club.

Mayor Ernest Burgess will be on hand to provide welcome remarks. Tickets for this event are $45 and may be purchased online at Eventbrite.com.

The historic Baskette/Woman’s Club building, located two blocks from the Public Square, was built in 1856 and is in need of emergency restoration efforts to save its presence and its voice in the community.

A complete new roof (11,000 square feet) and gutter system are the first order of business. A new boiler is needed to provide heat for the entire house (over 6,000 square feet) before the heating season begins. A new electrical panel is needed as well as electrical upgrades to support the new boiler system.

The cost of these three projects far exceeds the financial resources of the Club and its members. For the first time in its history, The Woman’s Club is asking the community for help.

Our Legacy Gathering fundraiser at The Alley on Main Street, scheduled for July 22 from 4-7 p.m., coincides with the club's 102nd anniversary.

The Woman’s Club asks for your help in raising funds for these emergency restoration repairs by attending our upcoming fundraiser and fundraisers scheduled for later in the fall, or by donating directly to our Preservation Fund. Because The Woman’s Club of Murfreesboro is a 501(c)(3) public charity, your donations are tax deductible. In addition, we have been extended a very generous “Matching Gift” from an anonymous Benefactor to match all profits from our fundraising efforts until December 1, 2018, in an amount up to $100,000. During this “window of giving,” your donations will actually be doubled and go a very long way in helping us achieve our immediate goals.

To learn more about The Woman’s Club of Murfreesboro, our Preservation Campaign, or our “Match Challenge” visit our new website. Additional information about our next fundraiser and how to buy tickets to our July 22 Legacy Gathering are available on Eventbrite.com. Individual donations may also be mailed to The Woman’s Club of Murfreesboro, 221 East College Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Help us to preserve this important part of Murfreesboro’s history and continue its legacy and its story for generations to come.