I was sad, very sad when we decided we had outgrown Oden Hall. It has always held a special place in my heart; Harvest dances growing up, my first dance with my husband on our wedding day, parties and receptions. And add to that the MANY seasons of Funky Junk that have been spent there...more memories then one can begin to cover. Hollie and I haunting the Hall 'til wee hours of the morning finishing last touches. The Smell of Nathan's Pie baking in the kitchen, all the treasures on display like entrees in a fair awaiting ribbons. The face of every vendor filling their space and every customer waiting to find the item they have been searching and waiting for. The sound of Bridges Home echoing through the grange, becoming the familiar sound of Labor day weekend.
So when I went in search of a new location I was determined to find a building with the same sort of feel, a building with history like all the items it will be filled with, a building with SOUL like all the wonderful people who will enter it.
I looked at farms, no luck. I looked at big steel pull building...no heart. I looked at reception halls and event locations...no history. I was not finding the SOUL in any of these places. Then it dawned on me! The Church I grew up in, St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Oak St. Had been put up for sale sitting empty after a new Church was built across town, and I knew it had A LOT of space! So I checked off everything on my list one by one;
It had History, it was built in 1907! It had heart, My family members had all been married there. I was baptized there. Had my first communion, and gave my grandmother's eulogy there. Listened to my mother's voice ring through the sanctuary on Sunday mornings. I had memories here that I could share with others. So it did indeed have SOUL, it is after all a Church! After running it past Hollie, we agreed it would make a great home this season!
 |
| 621 Oak Street |
 |
| a view from the altar. |
 |
| I love these windows. |
 |
| My baptism with Fr. O' Donovan |
 |
| My First Communion |
 |
| We, Hollie and I, will be waiting to greet you again! |
On Labor day weekend I hope you feel it, We will all be there, the faces you have come to know and love and new ones that will be a treat to discover! The Sanctuary, the education wing, the courtyard, even the choir loft will be filled with Funky Junk! And on Saturday morning when the doors open we will be there to greet you as always, while the music of "Bridges home" once again fills the grounds with the last sounds of Summer! Welcome back to Funky Junk! Love Jennifer
PS As a gift to you I am giving away a St. Joseph's Centennial Cookbook! It is an amazing cookbook from some wonderful people who have put much heart into it! And some history too! retails for $25.00.
To be entered post a comment on this blog.
To be entered again link the blog in post on facebook! Good luck!
