100 Day Project 2021

Monday, February 9, 2015

Out And About...FINALLY!


What do you do on a Sunday afternoon when you've been stuck in the house for six days, feel a little weak and shaky, and have a bad cough?  Sweet Mr. H had the perfect solution, a short road trip. I was able to just sit back and enjoy the scenery and the warm sunshine. Oh, by the way, it was 70 degrees again today.  Where, oh where is February?  Where is the cold I so love? Where is the snow? Okay, back to our road trip. Recently he had spotted an old church that he thought I'd be interested in taking some pictures of.  Did I mention that he was sweet?

We hit the road after lunch armed with camera, water, tissues, and cough drops!  I wasn't worried that I'd give this awful viral mess to Mr. H, he's the one that gave it to me!!  So sweet to share?? When Mr H said an old church I really expected a rundown church with cracked windows and peeling paint. Not so,  this church was beautiful and so well kept which is amazing. The nearest town only has a population of 314. I know parishioners come from around the county, but we're talking about a very sparsely populated area.


In the small town of New Dixie, Arkansas tucked away among tall trees is the Saint Boniface Catholic Church. It was worth the drive just to see this lovely building in the woods. But, it got even better. As we drove up the road we noticed a few cars in front of the church. The cars began to leave, all except one. She stopped beside us and told us we were welcome to enter the church. The don't lock the doors since they enjoy having visitors see the inside of their historic church.  They also have a greeter who welcomes you. See he/she sitting on the lower part of the handicap ramp?


Immigrants from Germany, Switzerland, and Ireland formed the St. Boniface Parish in 1879. They attended mass in individual homes until a church could be built on 40 acres donated by The Choctaw Railroad which is today known as the Rock Island Railroad. The first church they built was destroyed by fire in 1906. All was lost but the high alter which had been brought from Germany by one of the church members. The people were able to construct a new building the same year. I know 1906 doesn't sound very old to some of you, but in poor rural areas churches were not build with brick, they were build with lumber cut from the nearby woods and that lumber would not last forever. In fact the oldest church building still standing in Arkansas was built in 1856.


The bells placed in the steeple in 1906, are still tolled by hand and ring out across the community every Sunday morning.


As with most old churches there was a cemetery beside it. The older markers were written in German, but we could make out a few words. I was fascinated by the beautiful crosses, from the very simple to the amazingly intricate. 


We continued on our drive to see another old church and then we headed toward home passing by St. Boniface Church from a different direction and in the late afternoon. As I spotted the church through the trees I knew we had to stop again. 


The afternoon sun was shining on the church bring out rich golden tones. The stained glass windows were glowing. The colors didn't show up quite as beautiful as what I was seeing. Just trust me, it was breathtaking!


I can't tell you how good it felt to just get out of this house on such a beautiful day with good company. To top it off, we were blessed with the most gorgeous sunset!


14 comments:

  1. What a wonderful outing you had - and another church! That's such a tall steeple. I love it when church bells are hand tolled! Glad to hear you're feeling so much better! We are getting a proper winter here this year and I love it! Last winter was all tepid and wishy-washy and the early spring didn't feel quite the same because of that!

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  2. What a great road trip! And really so sweet of Mr. H. I think it was the best medicine he could have given you. That church is awesome.

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  3. I'm so glad you're feeling better! That Mr. H is a pretty special guy, isn't he? That really is a beautiful old church. I love that your photographs aren't marred with telephone poles and power lines. That's one of the hardest things about trying to photograph most of the beautiful historic churches around here. As to where your cold and snow are...I think they came to spend this winter with their relatives here in New England.

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  4. Such a beautiful church - I love to visit these old churches. Thanks for sharing this one. Be well.

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  5. The perfect antidote to your days of confinement! And what an amazingly sweet husband you have there - no wonder you kept him around all these years. What a treat that you were allowed to see the inside of this lovely church - in these days of heightened security, that is a real bonus.

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  6. oh i just love a good road trip!! i have been "stuck" inside as well and we did the same thing on saturday and it was divine!! you captured some beautiful churches!!!!!

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  7. I so love this! Some of my favorite memories are when Ed and I take an impromptu road trip. Wonderful photos. I love that flooring!

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  8. It's a beautiful church, I like the front on perspective in the 2nd shot here. Sounds really lovely to get out for a bit.

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  9. So glad you're feeling better, Cathy. It sounds, and looks, like it was a wonderful outing! That is quite an impressive church.

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  10. I so enjoyed the photos from your drive, Cathy... You've captured the beauty of the church and it's neighboring graveyard so beautifully!

    Hope you feel 100% very soon (and if you really like snow, I'd be happy to send you some Pennsylvania snow :)

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  11. So happy you are feeling better, no fun not being at your best. This sweet church couldn't be more perfect and oh those flowers and the light total awesome.

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  12. What a grand little church! It looks lovingly cared for. Glad you're out and about once again, Cathy.

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  13. So glad you were able to get out for this little jaunt. That is really a very lovely church. Hubby was so nice to take you to see it and how wonderful they welcome visitors in like that. I enjoyed seeing it through your photos.

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  14. I would have loved to wander around and in that church and the cemetery, oh yes, wonderful. I hope you are continuing on the mend.

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Thanks so much for stopping by!!