Taking a walk.... stories from the church

Some time ago, long before our family was entrusted with this stunning fixer upper, I was told a story while out for a walk......

I was getting a morning walk in, which entailed breezing right past this building. As I walked by, dreaming of it's potential future, I stopped to talk with our neighbor who had recently moved from the home he built just a few doors down to a more manageable property just a couple miles away. He was at his son's house which happens to be directly across the street from the front entrance of this church. 

We chatted about the transition that he and his wife were in since moving to a new home that is easier to maintain in their later years.  The conversation then transitioned into a story about their early years.....

Mel was 13 when his father was one of the deacons at this church. His father was responsible to arrive early on Sunday mornings, unlock the church doors, turn on the lights and heat, if necessary, and have the building prepared for all of the morning activities.  At age 13, Mel loved getting out of bed very early and going with his father for this responsibility.  The funny part was that Mel wouldn't walk into the building with his dad once they arrived.  Regardless the weather, he would sit in the car and watch out the window at the house across the way.  Every Sunday morning, as soon as he saw the front door of the neighboring farm house open, he would exit the car, straighten his hair and shirt and walk across the dirt road toward the family that was exiting their home. In particular, he walked up to 10 year old Mary, and ask if he could please escort her to church that morning.  Years later, they were married at the front of this church.  When Mel told me this story, I just sighed - it was the sweetest thing!~

Mel and Mary's families have quite a history with this particular church and though this building has not been used as a church since 1985, Mel has been escorting Mary to church for close to 70 years now.  We hope that he will once again escort his bride to this particular church, whether for a neighborhood get together or just to swing by to say "Hi".  Tony and I are excited to see Mel and Mary, and others grace the steps of this building for occasional neighbor gatherings once again!  We look forward to hearing many stories from it's past and know that there will be more stories to come!~  On that note - I'd better head up there and start doing more clean up!!!  It's the dirty part of our story!

Reclaim this Church!

What you see is what you get...and what you don't see is what you get.  Oh, and there were things left behind? Well, you might get those things too!

Those were the pictures that the real estate agent had taken for the sales listing of the church. What you see is what we got.  

There were many things not pictured....

Oh, and there is much more. Those things not pictured, lucky us, we also got. (I've not taken a picture of the kitchen yet, but can you see the glimpse of the pink counter tops by that lovely avocado green refrigerator?)

While the church was in a transitional title state this past August, a film company used the location for some shooting of a television series that might be picked up later this year. There were quite a few items left behind.  Two wonderful neighbors and I consolidated props that were scattered in the basement and main area of the church...

We really did not want to get those things too!~ Thankfully, 2 weeks after we closed on the building, the director made 2 trips with a truck to remove most of the items and yours truly took a huge load of trash to the dump (another great neighbor insisted on helping me collect that trash, claiming it was therapy!)

The most therapeutic and exciting part for me so far has been prying down the 2 dividing walls that were put in the main area of the sanctuary when the former owner ran his screen printing and embroidery business in the building.  We aren't done yet, but tearing down part of the walls has been quite rewarding for 2 teens, myself and my mom.  Guess what was found inside one of the walls - a whole 20 cents!~ Yes, we get that too - now added to the broken window fund.

 (The window you can see all the way through the 2 walls is above the original baptismal tub. Neighborhood hot tub anyone? Yikes!~)

My main man wants to tear down the upper part of the walls, hoping in minimize any potential ceiling damage.  He has been over the top busy with his real job, but once he digs into this, I know that he will think it is therapy too!~

We are making some "reclaim this church" progress and we will all be excited to see more light!~