Historical Society to hold annual fundraising auction

Visitors to Bloomington are often stunned by the rolling hills and beautiful architecture this Indiana college town has to offer. The Monroe County Historical Society hopes to preserve that and other history for native Hoosiers and visitors. \nThe not-for-profit society will have its annual benefit auction to help raise money Feb. 27. There will be household and outdoor items, antiques and art pieces for sale. The auction will feature an extra-large watercolor by Lee Weiss, an artist from Madison, Wis.\nThe Monroe County Historical Society expects about 60 people to attend. The event brings people into the building and makes them aware of the museum, said Lisa Simmons, the MCHS coordinator of education, volunteers and membership.\nGayle Cook, one of the society's founding members, said it hopes to raise $4,000 - $5,000. \nCook, a community member for 43 years, has played an active role in sustaining the museum. \n"I love history and antiques and architecture ... so this has been one of my loved activities for a long time," she said. \nThe Monroe County Historical Society was founded in 1905 and has dedicated itself to collecting, preserving and exhibiting local history and artifacts, according to its Web site.\nSimmons said the society is there to look out for the small pieces of local history. \n"We are out here to protect local history that may get overlooked on a state or national level," Simmons said. "(We are) interested in southern Indiana, what is important to this county."\nRachel McCarty, the president of the MCHS board of trustees, said the preservation of Monroe County's history is important. \n"It means so much to me. I'm so glad to be part of something that means the preservation of artifacts, to tell Monroe County's history is so important," she said. "My family is from Monroe County, and to be part of something that tells our history is great."\nThe auction will be in the Deckard Education Room at the Monroe County History Center at 202 E. Sixth St. Food will be available for purchase. The doors open at 5 p.m., and the live auction starts at 6 p.m.