On Saturday, November 30th Sister Caritas Strodthoff, Sister Mariadele Jacobs, Postulant Mary Jane Schwartz and Novices —Sister Maria Guadalupe Martinez and Sister Concepcion Medina-decorated the little church at the Manitowoc County Historical Society/Pinecrest Historical Village 924 Pine Crest Ln, Manitowoc.
The historic Niles Church was moved to Pinecrest Historical Village in March of 1972. The building was transported in three sections: steeple, fellowship area and sanctuary. The building was moved 16 miles from its original location on Highway 151, west of Valders. Considered a prime example of Gothic Revival architecture, the Niles Church continues to play a prominent role in the activities at Pinecrest as it did in the Niles community.
During the Pinecrest Christmas event on Saturday, December 14, 2019 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. groups will be performing in the Niles Church—Noon to 12:30 pm: Lincoln Singers and 1:00 to 2:00 pm: Mishicot Soundwave. Later, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. there will be a Christmas Lantern Tour at Pinecrest Village.
How did the Community become involved with Pinecrest Village?
In the early days of our Community archives, Sister Donna Marie joined the Manitowoc Historical Society and was a very active member, giving tours of the Motherhouse, giving talks at society meetings on the history of our community. She eventually received Lifetime membership for the community in the society. Sister Caritas remembers touring Pinecrest Historical Village when it was first organized and utilizing their genealogy resources when researching her own family roots. Over the recent years, she has continued this association with the Society doing volunteer services when able. Twice she tried maintaining a garden during the summer but it kept getting flooded out. Now she volunteers to bake cookies for special events such as Christmas, Lincoln’s birthday party, and Halloween. Five years ago, when the request came out for volunteers to trim the houses for the annual Christmas Fest, she volunteered and was asked to do the Niles Church. With the long green swags that reach from one end of St. Mary’s Chapel to the other, and with 10 window swags already decorated with gold poinsettias she felt well-armed for such a task. She asks for the help of the Novices and Postulants when available. It also gives them a chance to see the village with anticipation of returning when it’s in full swing…and definitely warmer. If you’ve never been there and would like to see the historic village, just ask her and she’ll make sure you get out there some warm, afternoon.
