DEMOPOLIS &8212; Antique furniture, specialty trinkets and a variety of items donated from businesses and individuals in the community line the walls and tables inside the Coplin Building in preparation for today&8217;s tag sale and silent auction, which are being put on by the Marengo County Historical Society.

According to Kirk Brooker, one of the society members, this year is the first year to incorporate a silent auction into the mix.

Vicki Wilson has been in charge of the silent auction, which received more than 50 items from the business community and individual donations. This portion of the event will kick off at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the Coplin Building downtown at 209 E. Washington St. In addition to a sneak-peek at the tag sale items, guests can expect to be treated to a wine and cheese affair. The cost for the evening is $10 for Marengo County Historical Society members and $40 for non-members, which also buys a membership into the Society.

Nikki Baker, one of the society members, has been in charge of coordinating all the items for the tag sale itself, which will continue Friday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This portion of the annual event is open to the public with no admission cost. All the items donated to the event come from area donors, Brooker said.

Proceeds for the sale benefit the Marengo County Historical Society, which is supported annually by membership dues, admission and rental fees for Bluff Hall and Lyon Hall and the sales from the Canebrake Gift Shop. This year, however, the Society has one more project they are hoping to raise funds for.

Although their usual funds support the operation of the historical building, Brooker said a job this big requires them to do a little extra fundraising. Sprucing up Bluff Hall&8217;s exterior is just one of many projects the Society takes on to maintain the operations of their organization.

For more information on the Tag Sale or the Marengo County Historical Society, e-mail marengohistory@bellsouth.net.