Ring St. Anthony's Historical Bell
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Ring St. Anthony’s Historic Bell!
In the late 1800s Italian immigrants created our little town of Brookside when they came to work the coal mine here. They brought their language, their culture, their grape vines and their deep faith.
The mine produced 1.5 million tons of coal between 1896 and 1910, but in 1915 a disastrous fire destroyed nearly all the mine buildings. Hard times followed. Mayor Tony Beltramo and Town Clerk Martin Vezzetti met once a year to pay the electric bill for the town’s two street lights. They said if the money ran out, they’d have to raise taxes or turn out the lights.
But the lights stayed on and the town endured. In the 1920’s an old two room school house was converted into a Catholic Church, dedicated to St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost travelers.
Today, about all that is left of our town’s great heritage is the church. In the belfry there remains the bell that once called students to school and later called the faithful to church. The bell is still rung in memorial to loved ones who have passed.
Now Saint Anthony’s Church is itself in danger. The roof is leaking and unless urgent repairs are made this historic building will be lost.
The Town of Brookside has been awarded a $35,000 State Historical Fund grant to replace the roof and preserve the building. But before we can begin the work, we need to raise a cash match of $12,977. We are a very small town with a population of just 254, including many retired people. The median income for residents in the Town of Brookside is $44,583. Still we have already raised 45% of our goal: $5,974.
We need to raise $7,003 more.
If you have an interest in seeing St. Anthony’s Church rehabilitated, please donate! And please spread the word to friends or families who might want to help—anyone who cares about historic buildings and keeping the past alive. Especially pass this on to the descendants of those who came to work the mines and might want to help save the old schoolhouse/church their grandfathers and grandmothers built.
In order to complete the roof during the 2018 construction season, please send your donation soon.
Our vision is to rehabilitate the building into a very usable event center, a place for weddings, family gatherings and fine art events. But first we have to replace the tired, old roof on St. Anthony’s. Please help the people of Brookside protect the last vestiges of their unique heritage, preserve their old memories and create new experiences to be enjoyed.
We will be placing this cute little guy on the yard light pole by St. Anthony’s to show our progress toward the goal.
When the penguin reaches the roof, Frank, our official bell-ringer, will ring the bell, signifying that the bell and the church will remain for generations to come.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! WE CAN'T COMPLETE THIS PROJECT WITHOUT YOUR HELP!
In the late 1800s Italian immigrants created our little town of Brookside when they came to work the coal mine here. They brought their language, their culture, their grape vines and their deep faith.
The mine produced 1.5 million tons of coal between 1896 and 1910, but in 1915 a disastrous fire destroyed nearly all the mine buildings. Hard times followed. Mayor Tony Beltramo and Town Clerk Martin Vezzetti met once a year to pay the electric bill for the town’s two street lights. They said if the money ran out, they’d have to raise taxes or turn out the lights.
But the lights stayed on and the town endured. In the 1920’s an old two room school house was converted into a Catholic Church, dedicated to St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost travelers.
Today, about all that is left of our town’s great heritage is the church. In the belfry there remains the bell that once called students to school and later called the faithful to church. The bell is still rung in memorial to loved ones who have passed.
Now Saint Anthony’s Church is itself in danger. The roof is leaking and unless urgent repairs are made this historic building will be lost.
The Town of Brookside has been awarded a $35,000 State Historical Fund grant to replace the roof and preserve the building. But before we can begin the work, we need to raise a cash match of $12,977. We are a very small town with a population of just 254, including many retired people. The median income for residents in the Town of Brookside is $44,583. Still we have already raised 45% of our goal: $5,974.
We need to raise $7,003 more.
If you have an interest in seeing St. Anthony’s Church rehabilitated, please donate! And please spread the word to friends or families who might want to help—anyone who cares about historic buildings and keeping the past alive. Especially pass this on to the descendants of those who came to work the mines and might want to help save the old schoolhouse/church their grandfathers and grandmothers built.
In order to complete the roof during the 2018 construction season, please send your donation soon.
Our vision is to rehabilitate the building into a very usable event center, a place for weddings, family gatherings and fine art events. But first we have to replace the tired, old roof on St. Anthony’s. Please help the people of Brookside protect the last vestiges of their unique heritage, preserve their old memories and create new experiences to be enjoyed.
We will be placing this cute little guy on the yard light pole by St. Anthony’s to show our progress toward the goal.
When the penguin reaches the roof, Frank, our official bell-ringer, will ring the bell, signifying that the bell and the church will remain for generations to come.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! WE CAN'T COMPLETE THIS PROJECT WITHOUT YOUR HELP!
Organizer
Brookside Colorado
Organizer
