Melinda Swift, co-owner with Chuck Hardin of the Olde Town Inn on Telfair Street, has long envisioned using the 126-year-old building to honor women of Augusta’s past.
“I’ve been wanting to name the rooms because I’ve been studying the history,” said Swift. “Trying to just bring in something a little different, so it’s more of a destination room. You know, come in and read about it.”
The homage would entail naming rooms after historical ladies of Augusta, such as Celia DeLaigle, who owned the house at 349 Telfair St. when it was first built in the 1870s, Butterfly McQueen, the actress who portrayed Prissy in “Gone With the Wind,” Marion Hollins, who contributed to the development of Augusta National and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha.
Swift’s plans to coordinate a soiree commemorating the women were put on hold as she underwent treatment for breast cancer.
As of July, Swift has been cancer free for six months, multiplying reasons to make merry, as an appreciation for history, art and finally culminated into the inauguration of festivities doing just that. On July 5, the venue hosted the first Olde Towne Peach Gala, celebrating seven years since Swift and Harden acquired and renewed the Olde Towne Inn — including the opening of its underground tavern, the Fox’s Lair.
The gala event was a fundraiser, inviting buyers to select artworks featured throughout the hotel by 13 local women artists, such as Tiphiknee de Herrera, Christina Rice, Rhian Swain and Erica Pastecki. The proceeds are going toward accommodating breast cancer patients who must travel from out of town to undergo treatment.
“Being that I’m this close to the hospital, my rooms, if they’re not busy, need to be busy with women that need something,” said Swift.
The night kicked off with at a matinee tour of the art, curated by Francie Klopotic, who also painted the portraits of the historic women for their renamed rooms. Syd Padgett offered wet paint photography. Singer-songwriter Ariana Cherice and musical duo She N She performed at the reception that followed in the Fox’s Lair.
Nancy Blanchard of Nancy’s Fancy Feasts catered the event with a spread of peach-themed cuisine ranging from pulled pork and peach glaze rolls, to coleslaw peach salsa, to cream cheese peach dip.
The event also contributed $500 to a scholarship at the Davidson Fine Arts School, Swift’s original intent, thanks to sponsorship by Artist’s Row.
“Now we’re just raising money exclusively for accommodations,” said Walter Santiago, media and project manager with Sample Augusta, who organized the gala alongside Swift. “So, moving forward, this being the first annual, we’ll let the scholarship be sponsored by other parties.”
The Olde Town Inn now owns the domain for www.peachgala.com, where it is already welcoming sponsorships for next year’s gala.
“That’s why I brought it all together,” said Swift. “This is my celebration of finally being cancer free.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
