The Civic Club’s Overlook Manor House and Mansion
Marybeth Lehtimaki listed, over the phone, all of the wedding venues that have popped up on Front Street in Harrisburg.
The market is now saturated, she said, which hasn’t been good news for the Civic Club of Harrisburg.
The club’s historic Overlook Manor House and Mansion, an event space, has experienced significantly less traffic in recent months, but not all due to choosy brides. Like many other venues and nonprofits, they’ve taken a hit due to COVID.
Between falling victim to COVID and to vandalism in December 2020, the club needs community support. They are hoping that an online silent auction will play a small role in raising needed funds.
The Civic Club’s “Bid for Civility” auction begins on Wednesday and extends through May 1. Auction items are locally sourced and include a Harrisburg-themed Monopoly game, a painting of the Civic Club Manor House and floral arrangements, among other items.
“We invite everyone to consider taking home one of our items and taking a step to help us improve our city, as we have for more than a century,” said Lehtimaki, the club’s president.
She said that the club is holding events again, but most are small gatherings. Three events in one weekend now may earn about half of what one large wedding or party raked in pre-COVID.
On top of COVID concerns, the club experienced vandalism, when two large air conditioning units were stolen and their shed was broken into. Lehtimaki said that the damage will be covered by insurance, but the club is in need of updated security. She added that they are planning to install a new system, including increased lighting, which could cost anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000.
That’s primarily where the auction money will go toward, she said.
Soon after news of the vandalism broke, Lehtimaki said that many community members expressed interest in helping the Civic Club financially. However, few actually donated, she said.
She hopes that the auction will have more success.
“You will be contributing to continuing to maintain a landmark building with historic significance in Harrisburg,” she said.
To participate in the Civic Club of Harrisburg’s “Bid for Civility” silent auction, visit https://event.gives/bid4civility. For more information, visit https://www.civicclubofharrisburg.com/.
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