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Trust event draws enthusiastic crowd
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| By: THERESE APEL, DAILY LEADER Staff Writer |
November 06, 2009 |
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Photo By THERESE APEL
Brittany Moore (from right), Angie Moore and Charlie Whitaker watch as Stuart Duck of Louisiana enjoys refreshments at Thursday night’s Taste of the Trust, held at the Brookhaven Recreation Department. People came from all around to enjoy samples from more than 20 vendors and bid on items in a silent auction.
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A piece of Brookhaven history will now become even more of a piece of Brookhaven history after falling into the right hands in the silent auction at Thursday's Taste of the Trust.
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Carroll Montgomery, a local Brookhaven memorabilia collector, was the high bidder on the sign from the old McGrath's store at the Thursday night event, winning the marker of what used to be the biggest department store from Memphis to New Orleans on a bid of $500.
Montgomery said he has been interested in the sign for quite some time, but that at one point it disappeared.
"Well I tried to buy it several months ago, and then it disappeared," he said. "Then Terry Pappas chased it down for me, and told me it would be up for silent auction, and I think it's important to keep all this stuff at home where it belongs."
It was a big deal to locate the sign, Montgomery said, especially considering his hobby of collecting things that commemorate the history of his favorite town.
"I love Brookhaven, and I love stuff that relates to Brookhaven, and I was afraid someone would sell the sign for scrap iron," he said. "When Terry said Cameron Smith had it and it was going to the Brookhaven Trust, I got my hopes back up."
And the sign will be put away for future generations to enjoy, Montgomery said, which is exactly where it needs to be. He said he will be donating it to the Brookhaven museum that is in the process of being established in the old synagogue.
"That was the only thing I bid on. That was my main goal, that sign," he said. "That's where it should have been all along, the museum."
Trust President Matt Hall said the event sold more than 100 tickets over last year's total. He said there is no count on how much money had been made yet, but there should be by the end of the weekend.
"This year, the way we marketed and all the publicity and everything, it brought people out more than ever before," he said, adding that some restaurants ran out of food.
There were more than 20 vendors set up at this year's event.
"It was a good night. We were so happy, it really exceeded all our expectations," Hall said. "And the auction was great. It was a great show by our local artisans."
Trust member Rita Rich said that besides the auction, the rest of the event went smoothly too, from what she could tell.
"I do know people were having a good time, everyone was laughing and talking and enjoying themselves," she said. "At things like this we see people we haven't seen in forever, which is why I was enjoying it. I think for some people it was their first time there and they'll come back."
Rich said members of the Trust also give the credit to the community for the success of the event.
"We really want to thank people from the community for supporting it," she said.
Montgomery said he's just grateful for the chance to get his hands on the big sign that commemorates the big store.
"I'm happy to find anything I can that relates to the tradition of what Brookhaven ought to be," he said. "And we're long overdue a museum and I'm really glad they gave us the synagogue so we can go ahead and get started."
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©The Daily Leader 2009
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