Before the sun went down, Ravenswood beckoned its first guests as part of Smith Park.

Guests mingle at Oak Hall after the sun went down.

Photos by PEG FREDI
For Brentwood Home Page
Late last week, a few lucky individuals were able to visit the centerpiece of the city’s new Marcella Vivrette Smith Park that is not anticipated to be open to the public until late 2013.

On Sept. 22, the Brentwood Historic Commission sponsored Rendezvous at Ravenswood, a fundraising event where the approximately 150 attendees were allowed to view a portion of the newly purchased 320-acre property and the historic house known as Ravenswood.

Festivities began at Oak Hall, where people were shuttled, compliments of Andrews Cadillac, to the historic Ravenswood house where Amerigos, Puffy Muffin, Beignets Café and Bakery, Whole Foods, Publix and Sonic provided hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.

Carole Crigger, a member of both the Historic Commission and the city’s Planning Commission, coordinated the tours of the house and grounds by guides in period clothing.

“The house was built in 1825 and is in amazingly good condition. The people who came through were surprised at the beauty of the property …  and how well the house has held up through the years.

“We are so excited to have obtained this property,” Crigger said.

Dinner was served at Ravenswood’s sister home, Oak Hall, the home of Jimmy and Sarah Wilson.  There guests were treated to a dinner of Southern fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, pulled pork, salads, various deserts and a banana pudding with sky-high meringue, all catered by Cool Café.

Becky Puckett, Mark Brow, curator of Belmont Mansion, and Mary Catherine McAnulty	Tour guide Chad Gray and Linda and Joe Lynch
State Librarian and history buff Chuck Sherrill and Historic Commission chairman Anne Laine Goad	Dinah and City Commissioner Rod Freeman
Don and Mary Lou Gallagher with Ashley McAnulty	Oak Hall owner Jimmy Wilson, event chair Carol Crigger and Michael Marchetti
Dorothy and Bill Mahler	Dwinna and Jim Walker
Kim Gawrys, Cynthia Shelden and John and City Commissioner Regina Smithson	Mary Catherine McAnuty, joins Sara Wilson and Kathy Devereaux in the Wilson's kitchen.
Jane and Currie Andrews	Katheryne and Everett Cowan

County Comissioner Arlene Cooke and Ann Sitton	Gil Hutchinson and James Selleh
City Commissioner Rhea and Marie Little	State Representative Glen Casada with his  granddaughter Audri Lynn Hoos	County Commissioner Tom Bain, Trudy Thomson and Preston Bain
Tommy and Debbie Bates	Trey Rudolph and City Commissioner Anne Dunn	Alice and Roger Hendry