Old Sturbridge Village auction set to subsidize class trips.

Byline: Craig S. Semon

STURBRIDGE - Whether you like to recline in one of the wooden seats from the old Boston Garden, sit in the studio audience for the taping of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" or lounge around in a reproduction of a Hitchcock chair - and you're in a generous mood - then the "Let's Keep the Ball Rolling" Gala to benefit Old Sturbridge Village might be the event for you.

A 50-member committee led by Ann Marie Argitis of Sturbridge has organized the event, which runs from 5:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday in the Village's Oliver Wight Tavern.

Ms. Argitis said the initial goal is to raise $50,000 (but, confessed, that her personal goal is $75,000).

Sponsored by Yankee Spirits, Bollus Lynch, Xtra Mart Convenience Stores and Schmidt Equipment, the Gala will feature cocktails, dining, dancing to the music of Four Guys in Tuxes, and one-of-a-kind auction items.

Proceeds from the event, which includes both a silent auction and a live auction, will benefit OSV's school outreach programs.

"Old Sturbridge Village has always been a favorite school field trip destination and we're finding some of the schools that have come for many, many, many years are facing the high gas prices and that has hit them in the budget," said Ann Lindblad, director of marketing and communications at Old Sturbridge Village. "So, we're trying to help by raising funds that can go to school outreach that make sure that those schools, especially inner-city ones, that really need that experience, can still come."

Among the unique auction items being offered is the Old Sturbridge Village Gala "Signature Chair," a reproduction Hitchcock chair hand-painted by Sturbridge artist Tim Bardsley especially for the fund-raiser. The chair is signed and dated and is the first in a new series of Old Sturbridge Village signature pieces.

A pair of antique wooden seats from the historic old Boston Garden stadium, home to the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics from 1928 to 1997, is also being auctioned.

Four VIP tickets to a taping of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," along with an autographed photo and other "Late Night" paraphernalia, will also be up for grabs.

In addition, there will be a display or rarely exhibited artifacts including "Welcome Lafayette" snare drum, 1824; a molding plane, 1798; a wood carving of George Washington, 1805-1811; "The Boston Massacre" engraving, 1832; a silver embroidered vest, 1780; embroidered coverlet, late 18th century; "Success to the Railroad" flask, 1830; and Salem Towne Presidential Ball Invitation, 1832.

Cost for the Gala is $150 per person, with tables of 10 available. For reservations or more information, contact Shelly Carey at [phone] or e-mail her at [e-mail].