The moment will finally arrive tomorrow night as Summit Gardens finally opens the doors to the public for the first time after the completion of the 4-year renovation project. The wedding and event venue will begin with an acoustic performance by hometown music artist Brent Hollensed which will begin at 7 pm and will be free to the public. Patrons that want to get a seat might want to venture in early as the building holds 120 seats.
Giving opening remarks will be the City of Howe Director of Economic Development Monte Walker and Chairman of the Howe Development Foundation Jean Norman.
Residents of Howe and even people not associated with the city complained for years about the look of the now-126-year-old structure that was originally built and housed the First Christian Church for 99 years.
The structure was granted to the city over 30 years ago and leased to the Howe Historical Society for several years after serving as the Community Center from 1982-1992. The historical group’s efforts raised some money for the renovation of the building, but the team headed by Carrie Waller and Jean Norman ran out of steam. However, they kept the money that they had raised which helped the beginning of the newest renovation project.
The City of Howe had received renovation quotes in 2009 and 2010 which each was over $450,000 and one was $693,000. During that time, the city also received quotes for the demolition of the structure which was as low as $12,000.
In June of 2015, Walker, who was also serving as president of Keep Howe Beautiful at the time met with members of the Great Days of Service including Clyde Hepner and Bruce Evans. Plans were laid out to complete the restoration in phases. The volunteer group completed the first phase that month by boarding up broken windows and clearing brush around the premises.
“I would like this to be a community-vested project,” said Walker in a 2015 Howe Enterprise article. “It’s already being jump-started by one of the best community-based groups – Great Days of Service. I’m envisioning a rally of “Save the Church.” I know how hard Jean (Norman) worked to be able to one day see the end results and have that old church beautiful again. To me, that day will be my favorite. To see that smile on her face when it’s completed. That’s the day I’m ready for. There will be tears that day.”
In July that year, the money that the Howe Historical Society raised many years ago went to fix the foundation of the structure for $15,000. Then the city used the Collins Memorial Foundation money left from the Collins family for the upkeep of the building to cover the exterior with new premium siding for $25,000.
In late July, former City Administrator Joe Fenton came to Walker with an idea of how a fundraiser that takes place in Muenster could work for Howe. Their fundraiser raises massive amounts of dollars on an annual basis with a dinner and live and silent auction. The promotion heavily involves a partnership from their local newspaper. That meeting with Fenton evolved into a full-blown “Save the Church” fundraiser set for Nov. 7, 2015.
On Aug. 6, 2015 the “Save the Church” committee was formed where Jean Norman was elected president of the organization. Those heavily involved in the beginning also were Hepner, Georgia Caraway, Alton Norman, Dusty Williams, Linda Wall, Mary Jo Wren, Beverly Martin Mary Stonebarger, Sheri Folkes, Donna Pelkey, Curt and LeAndra Beckemeyer, and Boyd Dunn. The committee determined that the end result of the building would be used to serve as a wedding and event venue.
Once the exterior became visible to citizens that a true effort to renovate the building was being made, it stirred interest from other willing donors to help out financially to turn the eyesore to the most beautiful structure in the city.
On Nov. 7, 2015, a live auction and silent auction took place at the Howe Fire Department and Howe Development Alliance office. Keep Howe Beautiful hosted an all-you-can-eat BBQ dinner for $10. All proceeds went towards the Save the Church project. Close to 200 auction items were available for people to bid on.
Rob Hunt and a group called “Not in Grayson County” had money leftover from a previous rally and donated $10,505 to the cause. After the donation, the dinner and auction, the Save the Church group collected over $25,000.
Boyd Dunn and Mike Barlow began construction in November 2015 with the removal of the baptistry that was penetrating the floor due to the settling of the building. Dunn and Barlow spent the next four years of their lives donating their labor for the renovation of the building.
The Howe Development Foundation (HDF) began in the summer of 2016 to work as a supplement to the economic development for Howe. One of the initiatives of the 501c6 was to oversee and operate the organization that began as “Save the Church” and evolved into “Summit Gardens” which the wedding and event venue was named. Walker serves as president of HDF while Jean Norman serves as chairman.
With funds from the initial fundraiser running low by the end of 2016, the group held another BBQ Dinner and Auction that raised over $9,000. In both auctions, funds from the dinner went to Keep Howe Beautiful for the garden area outdoors while the remainder went for materials for construction.
Health issues with Dunn forced a delay in the renovation. Rick Owens Construction picked up the slack and helped install drywall and electric for $10,000. Baker A/C & Heating installed new units and converted the building from gas to electric for $8,000. Darrah Dunn, a master carpenter finished the vestibule area for $5,000. All of the broken wooden bell tower louvers were replaced by metal ones with a screen to keep birds out. Three louvers cost $2,800 and were installed by Roger Brown of Metal Masters. Brown also painted the exterior fish scales and trim to match the white siding.
Dunn and Mike Barlow completed a porch to wrap around the north side of the building to the tune of $3,000. Georgia Caraway and Oscar Blankenmeyer donated over $1,000 to replace the broken windows, and the City of Howe had the roof replaced in 2017 and updated the sidewalk entrance in 2018.
Upon finishing touches, Janie and Harold Finney donated kitchen appliances and a large screen TV to the facility.
Even as Denton money filtered to the project through sales at the Howe Mercantile, the group again began to run low on funding as materials costs began to accumulate. An anonymous citizen then stepped up and offered a $15,000 no-interest loan to finish out the construction. The HDF could not have finished out the work on a timely basis if that person did not come forward and offer help.
The organization has grown to include hard-working members Dick and Daisy Smithwick, Becky Hogenson, Donna Wormsbaker, Janie Finney, Mary Stonebarger, and many others. Jerry Welch created the frame for the sign that now sits in front of the building and Finney painted the entire porch in the heat of the summer. She also cleaned the inside of the building on numerous occasions.
“All of our working volunteers brought their own skill sets that made this dream a reality,” said Walker. “From Jean Norman’s leadership, to Boyd (Dunn) and Mike’s (Barlow) craftmanship, to Georgia’s (Caraway) fundraising expertise, to Becky’s (Hogenson) vision for the garden, it’s been a working ensemble of amazing people will a variety of talents.”
