COUDERSPORT — An afternoon of music, refreshments and Roaring ’20s fun is planned Feb. 10 at the Eliot Ness Museum’s St. Valentine’s Day Soiree.
The event is a fundraiser for a museum, which officials said is attracting visitors from across the nation and around the world, boosting tourism in the region and bringing vitality to the Potter County seat.
From 2 to 4 p.m., musicians Steve Quelet and Eppie Bailey will play a set that features Americana, original eclectic songs, contemporary folk music and some surprise selections.
Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to dress in Roaring ’20s attire as they enjoy charcuterie and period treats, wine and other beverages.
They’ll gather in a setting that features vintage vehicles, a Prohibition-era corn whiskey still, and exhibits that celebrate the life and career of famous crime fighter Eliot Ness.
In keeping with the theme, attendees can look over a life-sized exhibit re-enacting the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, a jarring incident in gangland Chicago that built public support for Ness’s fearless battle against organized crime.
Another museum section explores Ness’s connection to Coudersport, where he spent the final days of his life in 1956 and 1957. The community played a significant role in the creation of a book, “The Untouchables,” that launched two television series and a blockbuster movie of the same title.
Tickets are $30 each and limited. Proceeds benefit the work of the non-profit museum. Online ordering is available at eliotnessmuseum.org. For reservations, call or text (607) 423-6902.
