TOWER- What seemed to many a far-fetched plan to move a 100-plus year old vacant church to a more prominent location in Tower took a major step forward, Monday, as the Board of Directors of the Lake Vermilion Cultural Center celebrated the groundbreaking for their project, at their new location on Tower’s Main Street.

“This is truly a grassroots effort,” said Tower Mayor Josh Carlson, who joked about the rag-tag collection of shovels brought in from assorted garages for the event, not the gold-painted shovels seen at more flashy government events like the groundbreaking for Tower’s harbor project.

Board Chair Mary Batinich, undeniably the major force behind the project, noted that everyone in attendance at the groundbreaking had played some role in the church’s future, either as a volunteer, a donor, or supporter.

As she introduced board members present at the event, she noted their individual strengths and roles in the project. Board Vice-Chair Nancy Larson, the group’s grantwriter, stressed that while enough funds have been raised to get the building moved and installed onto a new foundation, much more funding is needed to bring the project to completion.

“It’s a pay-as-you-go project,” she said.

Larson said that while Batinich is the “spark plug” behind the project, and Board Secretary Linda Haugen is the organization’s “Energizer Bunny,” now help was needed from everyone able to donate, both large and small.

A large donation from the Halunen family will be used to build an entrance and lobby for the new center, which will feature St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, no longer officially a church and called St. Mary’s Hall, with a central lobby area connected to a larger wing, which will house a reception area, kitchen, bathrooms, and commons area. The rear of the original church building will also be expanded to add additional seating. The entire structure will rest on a finished basement, which will be used for meeting and practice space.

Batinich also recognized her husband, Alex Batinich, as a major donor to the project.

Former Tower Mayor Steve Abrahamson noted that his family has formerly owned the corner lot where the cultural center will be moved.

“I always thought something special should be located here,” he said. “This is the perfect project for this site.”

In Tower’s earliest days, the lot housed the Pioneer Hotel. Abrahamson wondered what interesting artifacts might be discovered on the site as the basement was excavated.

St. Louis County Commissioner Tom Rukavina said the project will make a beautiful impression on visitors to Tower.

“I wish you the best of luck,” he said. “You’ve done an excellent job.”

Many praised the efforts of Batinich in shepherding the project the last five years.

“How hard she has worked,” said Haugen, “but we had so much fun, so many struggles, and so many laughs.

Haugen thanked Batinich for her vision and her persistence.

“I do not give up,” said Batinich. “I have tenacity. If you believe in something you just have to have patience.”

Batinich noted she had spent 20 years raising money to build the Minneapolis Children’s Hospital.

“With patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silken gown,” she said.

“This is not instant gratification,” she said. “The community needed this, and hope made it happen.”

St. Mary’s, built in 1889, is the oldest Episcopal church north of Duluth.

The Lake Vermilion Cultural Center will be used for concerts, lectures, plays, special events like weddings, conferences, and meetings. Episcopal and other church services will occasionally be held in St. Mary’s Hall in the summer. Batinich said the building will also host senior events, community education classes, and serve as an auditorium and performance space for the Vermilion Country Charter School. St. Mary’s Hall will be able to seat up to 150, once completed.

Timeline

Excavation work at the site has already begun. Once the digging is completed, footings will be poured for the foundation of the cultural center, as well as a garage, located on the rear of the property.

The skirting around the old church is being removed, to help dry out the structure.

As soon as the foundation is ready the church will be moved, by McGregor Housemoving, later this summer or early this fall.

The construction will be overseen by Scott Cooper, of Flag Builders of Minnesota. The first phase includes the construction of the entrance lobby.

The board hopes the building will be in use by next spring.

More information on the project, and how to donate, can be found at www.vermilionculturalcenter.org.