Night at the Races

Group to hold event in honor of community’s horse racing history

The Unionville Tavern Preservation Society just announced plans for a fundraiser April 28 as it moves forward with further restoration efforts at the nearly 220-year-old building.

It’s “The Unionville Derby... A Night at the Races” event that seeks to capitalize on the popularity of the upcoming Triple Crown thoroughbred horse races. The event also pays tribute to the connection Unionville has had with horse racing over the years to help raise funds to proceed with phase two of the group’s restoration efforts.

“The event will honor the history of horse racing in Unionville,” A March 29 news release reads. “George Hopper, an executive of the Standard Oil Co. and associate of John D. Rockefeller, lived in Unionville and maintained a thriving horse farm. He bred and raised champion racers and hosted races, at Elmwood Farms, in Unionville. The Unionville Tavern Preservation Society is excited about highlighting the history of the region, while raising funds to sustain our preservation effort.”

Since the Unionville Tavern Preservation Society purchased the building in August 2016, crews have worked to stabilize the structure from inside and out, did some restoration work on some of its most outstanding fixtures and are ready to move into the next portion of the project.

“The Unionville Tavern Preservation Society is engaged

in an ongoing campaign to restore and preserve the Unionville Tavern, and to repurpose the historic landmark, as a stateof-the-art, multipurpose educational, arts, and community events center,” the group’s news release states. “The society recently completed the Phase 1 Restoration program, providing a new roof, restored portico

and rehabilitated pillars. Additional efforts are underway to move forward with Phase 2.”

The April 28 event is scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Geneva Community Center, located at 70 W. Main St. in the city of Geneva.

According to the event news release, “It will be a fun night of virtual horse

racing, food, drinks, music, auctions, and betting.”

Tickets are $25 per person and include food, beverages, music and horse racing.

Tickets are available online at www.SaveTheTavern.org/UnionvilleDerby, and at Wit & Whimsy, 1940 Hubbard Road in Madison Township.

Tickets also will be available

for purchase at the Unionville Tavern, 7935 South Ridge Road on April 7 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Email organizers at savethetavern@gmail.com or visit the event’s website for more information.

The group also adds that 2018 marks the 220th year of the tavern’s existence and it has an expanded calendar of events planned.

NEWS-HERALD FILE This Oct. 17 photo shows the progress made on phase 1 of the Unionville Tavern restoration project, which began in March 2017. After completing some initial stabilization on the structure, this first phase focused on refurbishing the building’s roof,...