HoweEnterprise.com
November 11, 2019
5
Summit Gardens
Jean Norman gave a wonderful recap and recognized everyone who had a hand in the renovation. (Continued from page 2)
brush around the premises. “I would like this to be a community-vested project,” said Walker in a 2015 Howe Enterprise article. “It’s already being jump-started by one of the best community-based groups – Great Days of Service. I’m envisioning a rally of “Save the Church.” I know how hard Jean (Norman) worked to be able to one day see the end results and have that old church beautiful again. To me, that day will be my favorite. To see that smile on her face when it’s completed. That’s the day I’m ready for. There will be tears that day.” In July that year, the money that the Howe Historical Society raised many years ago went to fix the foundation of the structure for $15,000. Then the city used the Collins Memorial Foundation money left from the Collins family for the upkeep of the building to cover the exterior with new premium siding for $25,000. In late July, former City Administrator Joe Fenton came to Walker with an idea of how a fundraiser that takes place in Muenster could work for Howe. Their fundraiser raises massive amounts of dollars on an annual basis with a dinner and live and silent auction. The promotion heavily involves a partnership from their local newspaper. That meeting with Fenton evolved into a full-blown “Save the Church” fundraiser set for Nov. 7, 2015. On Aug. 6, 2015 the “Save the Church” committee was formed where Jean Norman was elected president of the organization. Those heavily
involved in the beginning also were Hepner, Georgia Caraway, Alton Norman, Dusty Williams, Linda Wall, Mary Jo Wren, Beverly Martin Mary Stonebarger, Sheri Folkes, Donna Pelkey, Curt and LeAndra Beckemeyer, and Boyd Dunn. The committee determined that the end result of the building would be used to serve as a wedding and event venue. Once the exterior became visible to citizens that a true effort to renovate the building was being made, it stirred interest from other willing donors to help out financially to turn the eyesore to the most beautiful structure in the city. On Nov. 7, 2015, a live auction and silent auction took place at the Howe Fire Department and Howe Development Alliance office. Keep Howe Beautiful hosted an all-you-can-eat BBQ dinner for $10. All proceeds went towards the Save the Church project. Close to 200 auction items were available for people to bid on. Rob Hunt and a group called “Not in Grayson County” had money left over from a previous rally and donated $10,505 to the cause. After the donation, the dinner and auction, the Save the Church group collected over $25,000. Boyd Dunn and Mike Barlow began construction in November 2015 with the removal of the baptistry that was penetrating the floor due to the settling of the building. Dunn and Barlow spent the next four years of their lives donating their labor for the
© 2019 The Howe Enterprise
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