violet

Shannon

We don't have any one style but I do collect copper molds (they hang in my kitchen). We also like Terry Redlin prints (currently have two and one plate). I would like to eventually have more.

violet

Pastor Gary

Since our home is also the Rectory, our decor is 'early Christian'...LOL

violet

Pastor Gary

Close, Violet - and it WAS that way early on, except for the 'mud walls' when it was constructed in 1879. It has been affiliated in one way or another as a meeting place for God's children over it's entire life of 128 years. It started out as a Baptist Congregation meeting place on a wagon trail between a US Military Frontier Fort and a native American settlement in 1879. It changed hands a couple times and my wife and I bought it in 1970 to continue it's heritage as a religious meeting place. We use it as a base of operations and now have Prayer Service venues in 5 states... Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida.

violet

Pastor Gary

We have the Abstract for the property and that goes back even farther than the building itself... to 1867 when the location that the building was built on was just a farm field. The County Clerk's Office issued surveying measurements for about a dozen 1/2 acre lots to establish a rest stop on the wagon trail between the Fort and the tribal village. Our property is part of that original rest stop area. The survey lists our property as being a certain number of 'rods' (measurement=16 1/2 feet) from a 'Witness Tree' on the banks of the large river about a mile east southeast of our location. That tree was the basis for all lot locations here and when the tree was cut down in 1911 for a railroad right-of-way, a brass survey marker was placed there in it's place and remains there to this day. ( Also listed in the Abstract ).

Our current Rectory started life as a Baptist Church. There are still other buildings that were part of that original rest stop here, but are all residences these days. A Blacksmith Shop and Livery Stable, a Boarding House, a General Store and our building were the main features with a couple of farm houses nearby.

We did several renovations over the years and did find several pieces of history. We removed a wall in what is now the kitchen during a renovation and found some US mint coins dating to 1864. We also found a US Calvary Sword and scabbard in the attic with the normal "U.S." markings on it from the Civil War era. We donated that to the local museum where it has been on display for nearly 30 years. There was also a newspaper from a town nearby dated in 1881 with news articles about a railroad expansion from that town up into the virgin pine forests 100 miles north of us where a new logging camp was being built. That camp turned out to eventually be part of the Connor Lumber Company.
http://www.meadwildlife.org/history-06.html

In keeping with the overall history of this residence and the ties to the northern part of the state, as mentioned in that newspaper article, we established an outdoor Prayer Service venue in a small part of that pine forest that still remains intact. We call it "The Cathedral of the Pines". The 160 foot high White Pines are our walls and ceiling and the pine needles are our floor. It is marvelous to be conducting a quiet prayer service there and be able to watch white tail deer meandering past our meeting place to go drink from the lake. We also enjoy the winds whispering through the tops of the pines that reminds us that God created the beauty of the area and has given it to us all to enjoy. In the autumn, the colors of the trees across the lake brightens up our 'walls' and the sounds of flocks of geese heading south for the winter makes wonderful 'music' for our members.

We have enjoyed this residence for our 37 years here and find it to be a gift from God. The history, the charm of the building itself and what it has meant to various worshippers for 128 years makes us all feel tranquil and happy in knowing that God is our 'landLord'.

Shannon

That's really neat that you have found some historical things in your house. Our house was built in 1892 but the only thing we have ever found in the walls was bats. (Now gone thank goodness!)

__________________
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength! Philippians 4:13

There are four things that are too mysterious for me to understand: an eagle flying in the sky, a snake moving on a rock, a ship finding its way over the sea and a man and woman falling in love. Proverbs 30:18-19

violet