Soirée: A party with a special purpose.
By Linda Elissalde
David and Diana Ezzell graciously opened their hearts and lovely beach house for Keeper’s Sunset Soirée. This delightful event certainly was a party with a very special purpose. It benefitted our Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation and Historic Lighthouse Restoration. Charming Amy Maxwell Chase, Executive Director of the Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation, welcomed guests. She explained her deep belief in the importance of protecting Texas maritime heritage.
Guests mingled while enjoying fine food and drink. They quietly participated in various silent fund raising that offered gifts and other rewards for contributions to help in preservation of one of Bolivar Peninsula’s most precious historic edifices- Port Bolivar Lighthouse. This light house, erected in 1872, gave warning light for Galveston Harbor ships until 1933. It’s steel and concrete tower held 125 people during the horrific 1900 storm. It sheltered 61 people through the 1915 hurricane. Neglect and weather conditions caused much damage over years. Ir was purchased by Amy’s great-uncle in 1947. Mrs. Chase has diligently worked for preservation. “This lighthouse is everyone’s,” declared Amy. “It makes us happy to share her. She belongs to the peninsula.”
It was a magical evening. Crafted cocktails of all types, appetizers, and charcuterie were consumed. Elaine Rollfing’s famous lighthouse decorated cakes quickly disappeared. Attendees mingled to visit with friends, relatives and make new friends. Many discovered connections that they had not previously known. Folk quietly made donations or participated in the fund raising silent auctions during this happy gathering.
The Ezzells named their beach house The Crystal Lighthouse. It certainly sparkled as a beacon for this party with a special purpose. Amy Maxwell Chase’s dream of rebuilding our Bolivar Point Lighthouse is closer to becoming a reality because of David and Diana’s KEEPER’S SUNSET SOIRÉE.
