Hundreds of people attended the Classic Cars on Third Street in Marquette on Saturday. Over 185 cars were showcased during the second annual event to raise funds for the Marquette Women’s Center in rememberance of Jessica Drummond, a victim of domestic violence. (Journal photo by Lisa Bowers)

MARQUETTE — Third Street in Marquette was lined for blocks with automotive eye candy on Saturday.

Nearly 200 classic cars brought hundreds of car enthusiasts from all over the region to the second annual Classic Cars on Third Street event.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Women’s Center of Marquette County, in memory of Jessica Drummond, who was killed, along with her best friend Brodie Dagenais, on Thanksgiving day in 2015 as the result of an apparent domestic violence situation.

Women’s Center Director Beth Casady said the event last year had a great response and it has only increased in popularity this year.

She credits Drummond’s parents, Bill and Tammy Dupras with the success of the event.

“Bill and Tammy, … through their grieving process, thought it might be nice to do something in her memory,” Casady said. “With their love of cars, and wanting to do something to honor her memory, they came up with this — and it’s really growing. We have added two blocks (to display more cars) this year and they added motorcycles, and it’s just a nice community event.”

Last year’s event, Casady said, raised about $19,000, which supported operations at the Harbor House, the only domestic violence shelter in Marquette and Alger counties.

“The shelter costs us about $95,000 per year to run and that’s just utilities, food, electricity, laundry,” Casady said.

The proceeds this year will likely be used as match funds to help pay off the shelter’s $507,000 mortgage.

Drummond’s parents said they were excited about how the event was growing.

“We didn’t want Jessie’s name to be forgotten, so we would put this together,” Tammy Dupras said. “Everyone just seems to love it. This is something Marquette needed to begin with. We didn’t have a real car show like St. Ignace or Escanaba and stuff like that; we don’t have car clubs really around here. So we kind of wanted to, everyone likes to show off their prize possession that they hide in the garage all winter long. What a good way to do it, and people would be willing to put the money to a good cause.”

Casady estimated, just in the last year, that 120 people stayed at the shelter and 525 people — men, women and children who were dealing with domestic violence or sexual assault crises — have been assisted by the Women’s Center.

The reason for the show, Bill Dupras pointed out, is ultimately to help victims of domestic violence.

“If you are in a bad situation, the Women’s Center can help you,” Bill Dupras said. “Get out of there. If it’s a guy or a girl or a kid, get out of there before something happens like what happened to our daughter, you know. This is fun, but there is a purpose for this and I guess if we can help one person, then we succeeded.”

Bill Dupras said based on the turnout to Saturday’s event that the proceeds this year will meet or exceed the amount donated last year. The final tally will be announced after organizers have had a chance to meet in the next week or so, he said.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.