News

Bridge renovations unveiled

Friends and staff of The Bridge-Between Retreat Center in rural Denmark will dedicate the center's newly renovated farmhouse and its 600 square-f00t addition at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 16.

An open house will follow. Sr. Caroline Sullivan, OP, administrator, advises guests to dress casually.

Work on the renovation began in late August and was completed by Thanksgiving. The addition to the 94-year-old farmhouse, includes a basement, first floor dining room and a second floor chapel.

Included in the renovation was the refurbishing of the kitchen, first floor bathroom and pantry. The upstairs was repainted and recarpeted. A half-bath was added in what had been a chapel closet.

The house was re-roofed; new siding was put on all sides except the north and the area around the house was landscaped, Sr. Sullivan said.

Estimated cost of the work was more than $100,000, Sr. Sullivan said, but the actual cost to the retreat center was about $10,000 because 30-40 businesses and individuals donated labor and materials.

Heading the project was Jeff Marlow of Marlow and Associates of Green Bay, who arranged for his subcontractors' contributions.

The Bridge-Between also received two grants for the renovation, including one for $22,000 from the St. Norbert Abbey Augustine Stewardship Fund Trust.

The people working on the renovation worked like they were "working on their home(s)," Sr. Sullivan said. They were "giving from their own essence, from their own faith dimension."

The changes and addition have embellished the house, she said. "It has not lost its farmhouse appeal."

The expansion was made because the retreat center is serving more and more people. In 2002, it served 2,500 people on site and around 6,000 "away from the center," she said. Approximately 400 people were turned away.

During a tour of the addition, Sr. Sullivan noted that the new Marlow Memorial Chapel, with cathedral ceiling, opens off the old. While the former will be used as a sitting room, it also will accommodate large groups using the new chapel.

Visitors to the new chapel can sit on either the floor or portable chairs. A small balcony is located on the south end.

Future plans for the Bridge-Between include its incorporation, making it eligible for grants, Sr. Sullivan said. A development committee is also being organized.

The retreat center is taking applications for a part-time administrative assistant.

More information on the Bridge-Between is available by phoning (920)864-7230 or on its website, www.bridge-between.com.

The center is located at 4471 Flaherty Lane outside Denmark.