Old volunteers in a young world
July 28, 2007 - 11:09am — JYork
Location(s)
Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum Robertsdale, PA, 16674
See map: Google Maps
When a "congregation" departs, a church becomes a neglected building and sits unused. Only the shape of the structure or its location offers a hint of its former purpose. It can be a sad end for sure.
Located on a dead end street in Robertsdale, Pennsylvania, the United Methodist Church like many churches across Pennsylvania, no longer houses a congregation . The stained glass windows are gone. Years of neglect have transformed the painted, white exterior of the church into a building crying out for Sherwin William’s salvation.
The good news is adaptive reuse will save this structure, and members of the Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum spend many hours and dollars transforming the eyesore into an asset. Coal mining heritage – displays and exhibits – will be housed there.
This small group of overworked, aging volunteers battle arthritic joints and the ever present money woes, to complete the re-habilitation project. I just wanted you to know.
As for me, I was at the church to talk with volunteer, Bruce Lane. To do so, you need to find the guy, corner him, and talk while he works. On this day, he was a member of a five-person team installing electrical wiring. A team of one was preparing the exterior of the building for some much needed paint.
I encourage you to find a local non-profit organization working on your behalf and take an interest. Everyone is a potential contributor – time and talent are just as valuable as financial contributions; so I grabbed my camera and took some photos and video. I invite you to come into the basement of the church to take a peek at the volunteers in action.
Al Putt, Saxton – Bill Lynn, Cassville – Mary Gates, Dudley – Gary Snare, Saxton
Ed Stefancik, Hopewell – Bruce Lane, Cassville
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