ELDRED — Much has transpired since Tammy Ireland surprised her husband, Pastor Bruce Ireland, with the news that she had purchased the former Eldred Township Elementary School Building. The brick structure, which is situated on 5 acres outside of Eldred, was built in 1931 and closed in the 1990s.

Country Chapel Baptist Church on Indian Creek Road in Eldred.

Mrs. Ireland had left the house that day with the intention of buying a desk and chair at an auction at the old school.

“When I realized they were about to auction the building, I looked up and saw two inscriptions over the gym doors. They said ‘Enter to learn’ and ‘Go forth to serve.’ Then a man pointed out the many cots that were being auctioned and said the building was designated as a fall-out shelter,” she said. “I knew it was the Lord wanting me to (purchase the building).”

The new building owner had been operating Old Paths Country Store, named after Jeremiah 6:16, a short distance away. In time she made the decision to move Old Paths to the old school cafeteria. When the store was nearly completed, a Head Start program moved out of the space it had been renting in much of the building. The creative couple discussed renovating the school rooms and then met with people who had expressed interest in sharing space with her when she was in the old store. She sought their input for ideas for decorating, names for the shops, which items to group together in spaces, etc. After eight months of renovating and decorating, the wait was over. The new building received the name Olde Schoolhouse Village Shoppes, doing business as Old Paths.

The old school, at 109 Indian Creek Road, drew in former students, teachers who had taught there or those who had a child or family member who had attended.

“They would come in to see the school,” she smiles. “The stories we heard as we took people through. A woman even pointed out where her appendix had burst in the auditorium and how the janitor had taken her to the hospital and how she still loved him to that day. One time a mother and daughter came through. As the mother was telling stories, the daughter said, ‘Thank you so much. You made my mom’s Christmas’ and her mom with tears said, ‘No, you’ve made my whole year!”’

“Right then the Lord spoke to me saying, ‘You’ve made a new old path.’ Several people have said, ‘There is something about that old school.’”

Architectural and other special features were preserved, including the first grade room’s oak fireplace with built-in lockers for the children to store their belongings during their school day. In time, a large classroom was made in the basement where classes were held for Young Living essential oils for several years.

Country Chapel Baptist Church, which is pastored by Tammy’s husband, also moved into the building.

“My husband fought it at first. When we had our other little church, we were going to build. The men (of the church) said ‘You already have that big building, why not use it?’”

The large sanctuary is in an area that formerly housed two classrooms. The old stage is now a fellowship area. The church uses this area for mother-daughter banquets and social events. The former school library now serves as the church kitchen. Some of the shelving that once held books was kept and now holds dishes, punch bowls and serving pieces. The cabinets were salvaged from a remodeling job at a housing project. Some had already been thrown in a dumpster when Tammy discovered them. Donated pews were planed down for counters. The women of the church shopped at garage sales and thrift stores looking for white dishes to fill the shelves. The finished project is an attractive space.

Mrs. Ireland relates how people told her they weren’t surprised a church had moved into the school, because there were several praying teachers who had taught there.

After much success, hard work and a time of making new friends and new memories, the Olde Schoolhouse Village Shoppes came to an end due to several reasons, including a period when Mrs. Ireland went through some serious health issues.

But once again, the couple has been working tirelessly on another project, one that will help to finance a dire need, a new roof for the building.

“After all of these years of nursing the old roof, it’s time to replace it,” the pastor’s wife shared. “He stays awake when it rains, wondering where it will leak.”

Ireland has spread hundreds of gallons of tar, measured where each leak was on the inside and estimated where it originated outside. They would prefer to have the old roof torn off, but that is more costly and the estimates for just covering the existing roof far exceeds their budget.

“Our estimates are between $100,000 and $200,000. Being a small congregation, we decided we would have a fundraiser and are calling it ‘Raise the Roof Extravaganza.’ We will open-up for the three-day event to help cover the cost of the roof,” she states. “We are inviting the public to kick in, whether through a donation, a purchase or by spreading the word. Every dollar counts.”

Over the last six months, the couple has put countless hours into this project starting with putting the word out that they were in need of furniture donations, while looking for other pieces to buy to refinish. Some of the furniture was brought to them and others transported by the Irelands. Then the real work began of removing the hardware and refurbishing every dresser, chest of drawers, desk, headboard and coffee bar, chair, armoire, buffet and every sort of table imaginable.

A small fraction of the refinished furniture to be sold at the upcoming Raise the Roof Extravaganza.

Photo provided

“We have also gathered many small items of décor, including wreaths, floral décor, signs and pictures, to go along with the wooden furniture, so the customer will feel like they are walking into The Olde Village Shoppes again,” she adds. “Come early. Things will sell out fast.”

“When I am out, I have many people tell me how much they miss the Schoolhouse Village Shoppes. This will give them a chance to come back. We feel so blessed to be a part of a small community and the excitement in our community about our fundraisers. We have had anonymous donations and now have $10,000 toward our urgent need.”

Some of their former employees will help at the sale. Burgers and hotdogs will be sold at a food tent. Just recently, Craig Bickel donated a 1971 Volkswagen Beetle, with many parts, to the cause.

A 1971 Volkswagen Beetle, with many parts, donated to the fundraising cause by Craig Bickel.

Photos provided

This project is very important to the Irelands and the people of the church.

“The building is in desperate need of a new roof,” says Brittany Yonushonis, a friend of the church. “You would not believe how hard these two are working and doing it mostly on their own, refurbishing the furniture and repairing the building after every rainstorm, which is also their church. Please prayerfully consider contributing.”

Raise the Roof Extravaganza will take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 10 to 12, accepting cash and checks only.