Couple Moved Church To Their Farm

Couple Moved Church To Their Farm AG WORLD 31-4-24 An 1888 country church destined to be torn down was instead moved to a new home on Roger and June Lindquist's Hammond, Wisconsin, farm. Now it's finding new life as a place for family reunions, weddings, club socials and other gatherings. Our Savior's Lutheran Church was Roger's family church until the congregation merged with another. It looked like the church would be demolished, when the congregation could no longer afford the upkeep. Instead the Lindquists paid movers $80,000 to move the 60 by 80-ft. building 1/2 mile down the highway to their land. "Nothing was taken out, not even the chandelier," June says. "The mover said, æYou can put a glass of water on the altar, and it won't move.'" Within 2 1/2 hours, the church and its 80-ft. steeple with a 6-ft. bell completed its journey. In between planting and harvesting crops, the Lindquists built a full basement with a kitchen, insulated the church, put on new steel siding and covered the stained glass windows with protective plastic. They welcomed the public for an open house a year later in August 2006. It was an expensive enterprise. With taxes and other expenses it costs about $1,000/month to maintain the church. Because they are not zoned commercial, the Lindquists cannot charge for events, though they can accept donations. "This building was worth it," June says. "We did it because it needed to be preserved. It's good for the community." The church has beautiful walnut woodwork and furniture and was in excellent shape, she notes, thanks to the church women who kept it clean and maintained. Everything is still in it - pews, communion rail, altar, marble baptismal font, pipe organ and even the hymnals. June cautions anyone considering a similar project to be aware that the project will probably cost more than you think. But having the church on the little knoll on their farm property is worth it. "It feels like we're leaving a legacy," June says. "The community will have this for years to come." The Lindquists named the church, Historic Woodside Place, after the building's original location. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Roger and June Lindquist, 1652 U.S. Highway 12, Hammond, Wisconsin 54015 (ph 715 796-2311; junelindquist@hotmail.com).

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