Natchez — The Historic Natchez Foundation will have its annual meeting today from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Commercial Bank, Banker’s House, and Molasses Flats — all located at the corner of Main and Canal streets. A cocktail reception from 5:30 to 6:30 will precede the business meeting and awards presentation at 6:30 p.m.

Members and the public are invited to tour the Banker’s House and Molasses Flats during the cocktail reception hour, and the Commercial Bank will play host to the reception, business meeting, and a continuous PowerPoint show, “Natchez Before and After.”

The Commercial Bank and Banker’s House unite in a single building, a banking chamber fronting Main Street and a banker’s residence fronting South Canal St. Built in 1838, the Grecian complex is one of only ten National Historic Landmark buildings in Natchez. Ownership of the banking and residential portions were separated for more a century until Sis Stowers, owner and early 1970s restorer of the Banker’s House, acquired the bank portion in 1997. People will find it interesting to tour both portions of the complex, which has served the city as a hotel, boarding house, National Guard Armory, post office, and church. Andre Delabarre will soon open the bank as “The Columns of Natchez,” where he will host and lease space for special occasion events.

Recipients of 2008 awards are:

4Fred Mange, volunteerism

4Sis Stowers, volunteerism

4Anne MacNeil, Elms Court preservation easement

4Teri Tillman, Natchez Jewish history

4Worthy Women of Watkins Street preservation of Watkins Street Cemetery

4Paul and Ginny Benoist, 410 S. Union St.

4Jerry Dixon, 811 Washington St.

4Harold Hicks family, 1015 Main St.

4John and Marcia McCullough, 411 S. Pearl St.