For more than a century, the building at 264 W. Market St. in Marietta has served as a community hub. First a private home, it became a sanitarium at the turn of the 19th century and a soup kitchen during the Great Depression. Today, it's the location of the Marietta Community House, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and supporting Marietta through community events. To support its mission, the organization will host A May Evening in the Studio on Saturday, May 14. The event will be held in the building behind the house, which the organization has named Studio 264. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will feature food, drinks, entertainment and silent and live auctions.

"The auction is a means for us to raise money above and beyond our basic needs," explained board member Kathy Leaman. The last auction was held in 2019, and it raised money to make Studio 264 handicapped-accessible. Potential upcoming projects at the house include replacing the furnace in the studio, completing exterior painting on the house and updating furniture.

The evening will kick off with a cocktail hour, followed by a live auction at 6:30 p.m. During the cocktail hour, Leo DiSanto will entertain on acoustic guitar. Food will be provided by chef Christopher Panas of Comfortably Yum. "He and his team will have food stations set up," Leaman stated. "He's doing some really unique food to make this a standout event."

The live auction will be conducted by Karl Boltz of Boltz Auction Company. "He is so personable and very entertaining," Leaman noted. "He's got a great sense of humor." Auction items will include works from local artists, as well as jewelry from Koser Jewelers, a photography session, a golf outing for four at the Country Club of Harrisburg and more.

"Our 2019 auction was very successful," Leaman noted. "Seventy to 75% of the income came from donations from local small businesses. This is a true community event."

This will be the fifth auction held by the Marietta Community House, and Leaman said it not only provides a way to raise funds, but it also brings neighbors together.

"We have so much fun. It's kind of like a block party," she remarked. "It's not an intimidating event. It's an event to support a community building that's here for everyone in the community."

She emphasized that attending the event is a way to continue the mission of the Marietta Community House. "How many organizations have lasted more than 100 years?" she said. "We're here for the community and we've survived by the support of the community. This is your community house."

The reservation deadline for tickets is Wednesday, May 4. For more information on the auction or to purchase tickets, visit https://mariettacommunityhouse.org or search for "The Marietta Community House" on Facebook.