New Steps for 1894 Church
June 3, 2010 the old rotting steps were removed. The concrete contractor said there was enough rebar in the old steps to build a bomb shelter.
June 4, 2010 The first pour
The day could not have been better for the pour.
Skilled craftsman at work
The final pour will occur June 7th
Management burn - April 2010
Aided by cost share funds from MNDNR and a crew from Prairie Restoration, Inc. controlled burns were done on portions of the Valley Grove savanna restoration. The resulting mix of burned and unburned vegetation creates enhanced habitats for insects and birds not to mention visual delights for the visitor.
Results of burn
Visit this summer and fall and discover the variety of plants and animals living on the Valley Grove site. The on-going restoration is one of the most notable of its type in the State of Minnesota.
Christmas 2009
Service canceled due to snow
The Christmas Eve Service was canceled for the first time in 16 years. With the 23rd & 24th snow/ice storm, we were unable to clear the church yard. We canceled on the 23rd feeling it was not safe for people to drive to Valley Grove.
snow
snow
Interior - ready for service
photo January 2010
Future of the 1862 Stone Church
This spring the Valley Grove Grace Cemetery Association, as a vote of confidence in our organization, made a proposal to our Preservation Society that we could not refuse. The Cemetery Association offered to let us have a fifty year lease on the 1862 Stone Church for one dollar. The agreement was signed and as of June 15th we became responsible for the 1862 building. This opens the door to the preservation/restoration of the Stone Church. -- Computer rendering
FOR ADDED PHOTOS check the following link:
http://www.rcbmi.com/institutional/
The Project has started
Off with the old
The old steeple was removed November 6th 2007 It took seven minutes .
On with the new
The steeple was built off site and craned into place November 16th 2007. There was 1 1/2" clearance between the new steeple and the stone church roof.
Topping off the steeple
This six sided part of the steeple was also build off site.
Compare with our rendering above
The Rooster finial was installed March 6th 2008
The way it was before steeple restoration
Work is beginning the fall of 2007 to rebuild the stone church steeple.
