The crowd at the annual ice cream social of the Salem UCC Saturday, Aug. 22, enjoyed the meal and socializing. The congregation dates back to 1848 when it started in the German Salem settlement, but worship services are held in the "new" church, built in 1858.
The original 1848 building, often referred to as the school, remained in use for special activities until it was removed this year. The change was made to allow for construction of a larger, and as it turned out, safer building to serve the congregation for receptions, reunions and other activities such as the annual ice cream social.
The new fellowship hall building is 1,900 square feet. When completed, it will have a kitchen and two restrooms in addition to the large open room. According to Ken Wolken, chair person of the Building Committee, the building was made possible by funds given in memory of Gene Kirchoff, Jim Gibler, Ronnie Kirchoff as well as contributions from others.
Wolken said the original plan was to save enough of the original logs to build a memorial to be placed in a corner with some items from the old building. That plan is not possible, because termites, carpenter ants and general rot left so little good wood that half a dozen logs five or six feet long could not be found. The old stove was salvaged and will be placed in the new fellowship hall.
This year, as for more than 40 years, the Salem Ice Cream Social consisted of food, cake and ice cream, as well as a "country store" and entertainment such as a cake walk. The ice cream social is the only real fundraising event of the church. It has been the big community event and major social event of the Salem congregation for many years. The big change this year was that the food service and the country store was held in the incomplete new building.
The event began at 4 p.m. and lasted through the evening. Although some arrived, took part in the cake walk and food, and left, many stayed to "visit" friends, neighbors and old school chums seldom seen. According to church members, the funds generated from sales of food, the bazaar, cakewalk and other activities go into the Sunday School Fund. The fund is used to provide gifts, food and donations of various kinds to be used where the members believe they are needed the most. The present ice cream social is believed to have started more than 40 years ago to raise money for carpeting part of the sanctuary. The event has continued to the present day.
Although no attendance count has been taken, several hundred people attend each year.