Our local United Methodist churches–Garrettsville, Nelson, Windham– are joining up on September 29 for a joint potluck dinner/brunch following a combined worship service at 10:00 a.m. in the Garrettsville sanctuary. Everyone (with a dish) is invited; plates, napkins, tableware, beverages will be provided; there’ll be cake too. How can you lose? The whole extravaganza is about recognizing Rev. Fred Bell and Jane Bell for their years of service in the community. This will be a unique opportunity for fellowship…and some pretty good eating too. Mark your calendars. Look up your recipes. Y’all come, now.
Ongoing community developments include the first official event in Bella Dawn, the grandly-renovated event space on Nelson Circle, designed and operated by Larry and Laurie Hermann, suitable for weddings, receptions and other large-scale events, with all of the amenities called for to present significant social activities. Birthdays, anniversaries, meetings , celebrations of all kinds, indoor and out, can be accommodated in the well-designed and attractive facility with an interesting history/back story, which was outlined by Larry before the beginning of the Fall Get Together meeting of the Twentieth Century Club of Garrettsville on September 19, 2024. The gathering was hosted by the calendar committee of the club and featured fruit, cookies, punch and a brief program by Iva Walker about some of the historical buildings ( even the building the meeting was being held in) around the community, as well as some that have been lost. Members answered roll call by introducing their guests–old friends and newcomers to the community–standard information about club activities was offered and everyone admired the facility, which had been updated to intense community interest. Definitely an addition to the community and open now for events of all kinds…a “One stop shop.” as Larry put it…with services available for every need.
AND…following the opening of the 1924 time capsule on July 6, 2024, the James A. Garfield Historical Society installed a new time capsule to be opened in eighty years–not one hundred–on Garrettsville’s 300th birthday, 2104 A.D.marking the arrival of John Garrett of Christian Hundred, Delaware in the wilds of Ohio, newly accepted into statehood (1803) and prime territory for settlement, development, investment and progress.
The same boulder which carried the original dedication plaque was used on the backside for the new commemorative inscription. Pesicek Concrete did the preparation work for the mini pavilion and the pedestal for the stone, as well as sealing the whole project for its eighty-year wait for opening. Mayor Rick Patrick spoke, Jim Vincent spoke, Iva Walker spoke; the words of the letters, information and memorabilia encased in the time capsule await their chance to give testimony in 2104 as to what we are all about now. The Garrettsville Garden Club planted a tree in the Maple Street (Baptist) Cemetery as a remembrance of the occasion and a commitment to the future. The youngest observer there will be 89 years old–bless his heart–when it is opened again. Wait for it.
