LAPLACE — Once a crumbling River Road relic, the Godchaux-Reserve House now is a major restoration project for local preservationists who hope to see the centuries old structure turned into a visitors’ center and museum.

To help achieve that goal, the Godchaux-Reserve House Historical Society will hold its second gala at 7 p.m. Saturday at Belle Terre Country Club in LaPlace.

The “Denim and Diamonds” event will include food and drinks, including the special “Godchaux Punch.” Music will be provided by the Harold Warren Band.

Tickets are $100 per couple and may be ordered by calling 504-415-5379.

The group is inviting all former employees of the Godchaux Sugar Refinery to attend and reminisce with their former co-workers.

Steven Guidry, the president of the historical society, said fundraising is a never-ending process for those working to preserve and restore the house.

“We’re going to be raising funds constantly,” Guidry said. “The donations that we have, we still have them but we have to have an annual fundraiser or maybe two to keep things going. This is not going to happen with $100,000. I think it’s important to have a fundraiser yearly to keep it in people’s mind, to get the house done and put some artifacts in so we can keep this history.”

The house, built in 1764 by settler Jean Baptiste Laubel, was originally a two-room structure, which was added to and expanded over the years. It eventually became a part of the sugar refinery owned by Leon Godchaux. Local legend says the town of Reserve got its name when Godchaux called the house his “reserve.”

The house later came to be owned by black residents, including free people of color Jean Baptiste Fleming and Jeannette Teinter and brothers Francois and Elisee Rillieux.

The Godchaux-Reserve House Historical Society has been working since 1997 to preserve the house through grants and private funding.

It’s last gala of this kind was held more than a decade ago.

Guidry, who grew up near the once-sprawling plantation, has done much of the restoration work himself. In November he celebrated as the house got a new metal roof.  He also procured cypress trees from a local work site, which he milled into planks. Now restoration work is beginning on the front veranda and the portable mill has been moved on site.

“That’s getting some attention,” Guidry said. “People are excited about that.”