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Community
Community
Sharon Nickels, left, and Pat Dishaw recently helped with seasonal decoration changes at the Mansfield Pioneer Church. (submitted photo).
MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP — Volunteers from the Mansfield Memories Historical Committee met recently to change the seasonal decorations at the Mansfield Pioneer Church.
“Down came the Christmas spruce and garlands of poinsettias and in their place spring flowers and wreaths were hung,” said Shirley Beck, secretary of the Mansfield Memories Historical Committee.
The church is decorated and ready to welcome visitors during the warmer weather seasons. The Mansfield Pioneer Church is a replica of the “temperance hall” where church services were held in the village of Mansfield in the late 1800s.
“Like so many communities of that era, Mansfield existed because of the Mansfield Mine,” Beck explained “Sadly, the village was wiped out before its time with the mine cave-in tragedy of 1893 and a forest fire in 1894.
“Nearly a century had passed when a dedicated group of volunteers worked to reconstruct this little log church, returning it to what it had once been.”
The church has been used for weddings, christenings and memorial services since the late 1980s. In addition, Mansfield Memories has sponsored a summer service and a Christmas service each year.
“Sadly, of course, those gatherings could not be held in 2020,” Beck said. “The committee hopes that these services can resume this year if COVID guidelines will allow.”
Watch for notices in local church bulletins and newspapers with the details. In addition, the Mansfield Memories Historical Committee is seeking donations to help with a major repair project scheduled to start this spring. Logs will be stained and sealed, chinking will be replaced and roof repairs will be made.
Donations can be sent to the group’s treasurer, Sharon Nickels, at 257 Wright Road, Crystal Falls, MI 49920. Mansfield Memories has 501c3 status and receipts will be sent.
For more information or questions, contact Sharon Nickels at 875-6098 or Shirley Beck at 875-6376.
To visit this historic landmark, turn off M-69 onto the Mansfield Cut-Off Road, which is approximately 4 miles east of Crystal Falls and about 6 miles west of Sagola. Travel until you reach a fork in the road and veer left onto Stream Road. The church can be viewed from the road 1/2 mile later. The church is also listed as a site on Iron County’s Heritage Trail.