On Sunday, June 1, literally hundreds of people joined in the 150th Anniversary Community Reunion at Old Salem Shrine. On the warm, sun-filled day, many came to see inside the church for the first time while many descendants of the church’s original members reconnected with distant relatives.
Members of the Board of Trustees answered questions inside the church as people streamed in while other Trustees and descendants were in the cemetery to share information about their families with guests. The event also included a bake sale, a kids’ lemonade stand and an ice cream truck that dished out more than 200 servings of free scoops, floats, sundaes and ginormous ice cream sandwiches that hit the spot in the summer heat.
A short ceremony was held to dedicate a new landmark sign identifying the historical church to passersby. Board of Trustee President Krista Hutchinson, Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins, Inver Grove Heights City Council Member Tony Scales and Rev. Michelle Hargrave, District Superintendent with the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church shared a few words of reflection on the longevity of the church and what life might have been like as an early settler to the area.
Following the dedication ceremony, everyone present gathered for a group photo much like the photo taken at the 1931 reunion.
From before the noon start time until after 3 p.m. published conclusion, people continued to flow into the church and church yard. Cars were lined up both sides of Annette Avenue in its entirety. A police car was stationed just east of the church to control traffic while Trustees diligently acted as crossing guards to keep guests safe.
KARE-11 News did a short story on the event. Watch it here.
