Later today will be a special event happening with a historical structure in the Churdan area.

This year is the 150th anniversary of St. Patrick’s – Cedar Historical Church and Cemetery and they are marking the occasion with lots of activities. A mass service is at 11:30am, followed by the opening of the time capsule. Co-organizer Andy Geisler talks about that piece of history.

“The last time it was opened was 50 years ago. No one knows what was put in there. We shopped everyone in the neighborhood and those that were present (50 years ago) don’t remember it because they were too young. So we’ll see what was in there from the last 50 years too. And then we’ll add to it and put the time capsule back in its place.”     

A lunch will be served at 12:30pm with the Greene County Cattlemen’s Association grilling burgers and Lidderdale Country Store providing sides. Then at 2:15pm will be the Heritage Parade of Families, in which Geisler explains what will take place.

“That’s an idea that came up from the long time families parishioners and their roots into Cedar (Township) and Greene County. And so the families, they are just going to be coming from the Jensen Farm and they’ll drive through the cemetery for all the people to see and to wave.”    

A live auction begins at 3pm, featuring a commemorative 30/30 Winchester lever action rifle with gold and silver inlay of Greene County, along with a picture of St. Patrick’s Church, the Mahanay Memorial Bell Tower and the Greene County Courthouse, or one of ten handcrafted kaleidoscopes. There will also be handmade wooden eggs and they will go until there are no more bids. All proceeds from the auction goes toward the St. Pat’s Foundation for maintenance of the historical church. 

Other activities include self-guided cemetery tours, pioneer wagon trail rides, antique tractor displays, kid crafts and games, along with funnel cakes, ice cream and music inside the church. A commemorative book, “St. Patrick-Cedar 150” that features contributed memories from individuals that are available for purchase.

Geisler adds people can bring their own chairs for the outdoor events and there will be tents set up around the property and there is also air conditioning inside the church.