VFW moves into old church

ELLSWORTH -- The Pierce County's Veterans of Foreign Wars has found a permanent home in Ellsworth, and although there's still work to be done, things are coming along nicely.

VFW Post 9060, which has 160 members from around Pierce County, bought the former United Methodist Church on Plum Street last October and has been holding monthly and committee meetings there ever since.

"We haven't had a permanent home since we sold the bar," said Cmdr. Bill Bowen.

About 20 years ago, the post sold the building it owned in Prescott. That building became Broad Street Bar, and the VFW was allowed to use its basement for monthly meetings for years.

But over time, as members aged, accessibility became a problem. The VFW, which has 160 members, moved meetings to the American Legion in Ellsworth for about six months and then went back to Prescott until late last year.

"The opportunity came to buy this building, and we jumped on it," Walt Matzek said.

Among the first jobs members tackled after taking possession of the old church was to install a privacy wall in the basement and renovate the two bathrooms, making them handicapped accessible.

"It was quite a project doing the bathrooms," Bowen said.

But still, all the drawbacks aren't solved because there are six steps from the side entrance down to the basement, which can seat 100 people and has complete kitchen facilities.

Members are dealing with the entrance problem and agree they need to raise funds for the work. Plans are to start fundraising in earnest by early fall.

Repairs have also been made to the church tower, and while the VFW sold pews from the former sanctuary, the stained glass windows were left in place.

The VFW intends to rent out the facility, said Matzek, who figures the upstairs could accommodate as many as 100 people. A committee is working to develop rental policies and a fee structure.

While they hired an architect and contractor for the bathroom work, VFW members figure they can do some painting and other touch-up work themselves and will enlist the help of Pierce County Master Gardeners to do landscaping.

"The vets are pretty good about volunteering and doing things," Matzek said.

Veterans of Foreign Wars is the official nonprofit service organization for U.S. military veterans benefits, VFW programs and community service.

Membership is open to military veterans "who had boots on the ground in combat areas," Matzek said.

The Pierce County post holds general membership meetings at 7 p.m. the first Monday of each month.

Community service projects include providing scholarships to graduating high school seniors from all the high schools in the county; the Voice of Democracy, an audio-essay contest for students in grades 9-12; and Patriot's Pen, an essay contest for students in grades 6-8.

For more information about the VFW, go to the website http://www.vfw.org.

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