By A.M. Kelley
Catholic Herald

Iron River parish dedicates new social hall

IRON RIVER -- A church needs three things to build a social hall. According to Bill Trautt, a member of St. Michael Parish, the magic ingredients are money, time, and prayers.

All three came together in just the right amounts for St. Michael's construction project this year and right on schedule. The dedication Mass for its new social hall and education center was held on Sunday, Dec. 4.

Trautt managed the project, but it was an idea long in the planning. Fr. Barry Schneider, OFM, began setting money aside and spearheading fund raisers 10 years ago, according to Trautt. Schneider is now in a nursing home in Shakopee, Minn., but his idea grew into a nest egg of $300,000 saved from years of rummage and bake sales, contributions and pledges.

The hands-on work for the new social hall began last April with the demolition of the old hall. It had only 1,200 square feet, which included a small kitchen, a classroom and non-handicapped accessible rest rooms.

On May 1 the construction began on the much larger multi-purpose building of 4,800 square feet. The space was designed to serve three purposes: overflow seating for church services, classrooms, or for church dinners.

The price tag was originally $688,000 but many hours of volunteer labor saved the church more than $150,000. They contracted out the electrical, masonry, mechanical and plumbing work, but all the rough construction -- the framing of walls, trusses, Sheetrock installation and insulation -- was accomplished by the parishioners.

"Most of the work was done on weekends," Trautt said. "People would show up and say, 'I don't know what to do -- show me.'"

His expertise in supervising construction came from 35 years as a school superintendent. Besides building his own home and homes for his sons, he oversaw five major projects as superintendent, including one costing $17 million in the Hayward School District.

"Because the (building) committee knew my background, they volunteered me," Trautt said. "We designed every square inch (of the addition) and we arm-wrestled with architects."

The committee wanted one building which would have multiple functions. This caused a conflict with the architects, who designed separate rooms for all of the church's needs, ballooning the cost estimates into the millions.

The church knew what kind of work it wanted its building to do. For instance, the design of the kitchen was important to all the women who work on funeral and other church dinners. The Altar Society bought the stove, refrigerator and stainless steel work table.

"They wanted a lot of space," Trautt said.

He oversaw much of the work and was on the job everyday since April 1.

"It was fun to do now that I have the time," he said.

Trautt retired in 2000 and with his wife, Shirley, moved back to Iron River. He had grown up in the area, and received his first Communion and was confirmed at St. Michael.

Time is what was needed as the dedication date neared. It had been set far in advance and Bishop Raphael M. Fliss was coming for the celebration so the work schedule tightened up as the deadline approached. Just a day before Thanksgiving a crew was still putting in the vinyl floor. The stove and refrigerator had been delivered but installation was impossible until the floor was completed.

On Dec. 2, electricians were working on the fire alarm system. Ceiling tiles were missing and there were boxes, brooms, tools and ladders everywhere. The cooks of the church had been at work too. In the new kitchen, big sheet cakes, hot out of the oven, were cooling and ingredients for the post-dedication meal for 200 were piling up.

But by Sunday, Trautt, the members of the building committee, and the rest of the parishioners pulled it all together. The new facility was ready and after the dedication Mass a meal was served.

The new hall, like the old, connects the church with the priest's living quarters. There are moveable partitions which can divide the dining area into five classrooms if needed.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2005