Tracy Mayville, a GFWC board member and one of eight women on the charity ball committee, was delighted with the outcome of the event. Mayville has been involved with the ball in various capacities for at least 25 years.

“It worked out amazing. The Terrace Bluff (Golf Course) just was so accommodating, and it was cozy in there. Everybody just had a great time, so it turned out awesome. We couldn’t have been more pleased,” Mayville said.

With the fire coming only a day before the event, Mayville and the other committee members had to scramble to find a new site; otherwise, the ball would have to be postponed until after the holidays.

“Our committee got together and we just started calling around to see what was available and what our options were going to be,” Mayville said. “Then one of the gals remembered that the Terrace Bluff (Golf Course) was having a soft opening – they have a downstairs bar.”

The General Federation of Women’s Club-Escanaba had its annual Charity Ball on Saturday despite losing its original site due to the fire at the House of Ludington only a day earlier. The club was able to relocate the event to Terrace Bluff Golf Course. (Courtesy photo)

A new owner, Jake King, took over the Terrace Bluff Golf Course in late October. While the Terrace’s downstairs bar previously had been closed during the off-season, it will remain open this winter.

The ball took place in the Terrace’s upstairs dining and bar area, with social hour kicking off at 5:30 p.m. and dinner served about 6:30 p.m.

To raise funds during the ball, the club raffled items such as a diamond bracelet, Green Bay Packers tickets, a YMCA membership and a membership to the Escanaba Country Club.

In the past, the club raised funds to go various local projects and organizations, such as school supplies and clothing for local children, supplies for handicapped children at Bay Cliff Health Camp and more.

“We’re totally open to going back there (to the Terrace Bluff Golf Course) because they did such a great job. We usually start planning our next event in July,” Mayville said.

Fundraising numbers from Saturday were still being compiled, Mayville said.