For more than three years, the Alpha-Mastodon Community Senior Center has been fundraising for a new roof.

“The roof was in very bad shape,” said Neil Adank, maintenance manager. “A small area around a pipe began leaking a couple years ago — it was sure to get worse over winter.”

Facing a major renovation price tag, the center established a “donation can” for patrons to contribute after each meal.

“We started this prior to the pandemic,” Senior Director Starr Adank said.

Shown is the new roof of the 1943-built structure, which originally served as a church until the Alpha-Mastodon Community Senior Center acquired the facility in 1997. (Terry Castelaz/Daily News photo)

The center also added two special evening meals in hopes to generate more funds.

“We first did the pizzas on Saturdays and added fish fries on Fridays — both were a big hit,” she said. “Our seniors were very generous in supporting our efforts.”

Then, during a trip to the Crystal Lake Senior Center in Iron Mountain this past spring, Neil Adank learned that facility had received a Dickinson County Community Foundation grant for its sewer and water project.

“That’s how I got hooked up with Tamara Juul — and it has been good ever since day one,” he said.

Juul recalls Adank showing up at the office to request a meeting. “He explained how they need a new roof and the quotes are $40,000,” she said. “I’m like, ‘That is a big nut to crack — let’s sit down and talk about this.'”

AFFORDABLE ROOFING EXPERTS of Iron River contracted to complete the new roof of the Alpha-Mastodon Community Senior Center. The project was finished Friday. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

Original bids for the roofing project were done before the pandemic, too, with new bids coming in substantially higher.

“They were very fortunate that the contractor (Affordable Roofing Experts) honored his bid from three years ago,” Juul said. “We have to give them huge credit.”

Adank was also able to round up a crew of volunteers to clean up, helping to lower the bid.

Board member Lyle Wiencek joined in by assisting, along with offering use of his front-end loader and dump truck.

“This eased the clean-up process tremendously,” said Neil Adank, who brought his tractor as well.

The center was able to get the cost to a workable amount, Juul said. The completed project totaled $27,500.

“This amount includes the additional $1,000, as once the contractors started they ran into some complications,” she said.

“This wasn’t a surprise, as it been 25 years since the roof has been replaced,” Neil Adank said.

The Alpha-Mastodon Community Senior Center purchased the former St. Edward’s Church in 1997.

The structure was built in 1943.

The senior center was able to contribute $14,000, with the Dickinson Area Community Foundation securing the remaining funds.

“I made a lot of phone calls to politicians, government and county offices, trying to coming up with money,” Juul said.

The DCCF was able to apply for grant through Enbridge Inc. “They have a pipeline that runs through Iron County and northern Dickinson County and they felt they were here and they could support doing good work,” Juul said.

In the application, Juul explained how the facility was so much more than just a senior center.

“It is a gathering of the community, and this building, in a village of Alpha’s size, is critical,” Juul said. “This is where people meet and check up on their friends and neighbors to make sure they are healthy and well.”

The company agreed and awarded a grant for $9,684, roughly a third of the total cost of the project.

The remaining funds came from a DCCF Donor Advised Fund. “This was a private family and as soon as they heard they jumped on board and said they wanted to be a part of it,” she said.

Juul also stressed it was vital they get the project completed before winter.

“This is a huge community collaboration to make this project a reality,” Juul said.

The center’s next project is to raise money for a new floor, Starr Adank said.

“We want to try to continue to make updates to this iconic building as we get the funds,” she said. “I have a real passion for this building and all the seniors that I have gotten to know the last 10 years — they became my family.”

Starr Adank also made promises to these people. “This was a church once — they had weddings here, babies were baptized and also had funerals here,” she said. “So it’s important to everyone here to maintain it.”

Juul credits Starr Adank for her commitment for serving the seniors and keeping the building a viable resource for the community.

Board members includes treasurer Molly Cameron, Tom Jarvi, Lyle Wiencek, Curt Olexa and Sassy Byczek.

The center, at 415 Main St., is open four days a week — serving soup and sandwich meal from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays, fish fries from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays, pizzas from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday and dinner from 2 to 3 p.m. Sundays. Anyone wishing to place an order can contact the center at 906-875-3315.