The rousing piano sounds of the Boogie Woogie Train Blues filled the Orange County Expo Center Thursday night. But the non-profit group Friends of the Orange Depot wasn’t feeling the blues. More than 300 people attended the second annual gala to raise money to restore the century old Southern Pacific Depot in downtown Orange.
Ezra Charles of Houston, an expert in the boogie woogie style, entertained on the baby grand and gave short history lessons in boogie woogie, which evolved in East Texas.
The non-profit group hoped to raise more than $50,000. A final figure is not available because the donations from all the auction items haven’t been counted.
Friends of the Orange Depot also honored Orange native and former city councilwoman Theresa Beauchamp for her contributions to the community.
Carrie Joiner Wolliver is president of the Friends group. Susan Quigley was chair of the gala.
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