TOM WENDER OF Breitung Township is in the process of renovating the former Pine Creek School for a nonprofit woodworking facility. Pine Creek Woodworking will offer access to equipment at no cost to area seniors, veterans and individuals interested in the trade. Wender purchased the school this past fall. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

BREITUNG TOWNSHIP — A retired local teacher is giving new life to the century-old Pine Creek School in Breitung Township.

Tom Wender has spent the past several months refurbishing the one-room schoolhouse to again serve as a place for learning, this time as Pine Creek Woodworking.

It was about 12 years ago that Wender had a vision of developing a nonprofit woodworking facility while on vacation in Leadville, Colo., with his wife, Jennifer.

“My wife and I were walking down the street in Leadville — which is a small town, like Norway — and we heard noises coming out of a shop of what sounded like woodworking equipment. Being curious, I went in,” Wender said.

He discovered the woodworking shop was used by local seniors.

Workers have completed the framing for the handicap-accessible bathroom being installed in the former Pine Creek School in Breitung Township. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

“I told Jen right then if the Pine Creek schoolhouse ever goes up for sale, this is what I’m doing,” said Wender, who taught the building trades program at the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District Career and Technical Education Center from 1977 until he retired in 2005.

About a year and a half ago, he approached owner Duane Hoffman about purchasing the property. Hoffman liked the project and was on board, he said.

Jennifer, along with friend and neighbor Dave Johnson, began working on the paperwork needed to form the nonprofit. A board also was put in place that includes local businessmen Albert Santoni, Steve Pontbriand, John Fortier, Ted Fornetti and Denny Olson.

“These guys have a lot of knowledge, are all very valuable,” Wender said.

With Pine Creek Woodworking approved as a nonprofit, they were able to officially make the purchase this past fall.

The century-old one-room Pine Creek School in Breitung Township will once again be used for learning, this time as a woodworking facility. Shown is the donated tongue-and-groove paneling that will be installed at a work bee Saturday. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

Wender noted a cousin found an Iron Mountain News article that stated it cost $3,367 in 1922 to erect the school for the Pine Creek farming district.

The structure has a total of 1,200 square feet and a full basement. He believes it closed as a school in the 1940s.

Immediately after the purchase, Wender and a group of volunteers went to work putting on a new roof. In early December, they moved to the interior.

“We basically gutted the entire inside, as there was no insulation in the walls,” Wender said, adding that the average age of the crew was 72.

The new ceiling was put up in about five hours. New windows are on order, framing for the handicap accessible bathroom is complete and walls are ready for the tongue-and-groove wood paneling.

“Not a board has been purchased yet for the building,” he noted.

The logs, which he milled himself, were donated, with Minerick Logging volunteering to kiln-dry the materials and Starship Enterprises of Vulcan cutting them into tongue-and-groove paneling.

On Saturday, the paneling will go up during an all-day work bee. Attending the work bee will be former students, as well as local and state officials, including state Sen. Ed McBroom and Dickinson County Board Chairman Henry Wender.

“It’s not really about the work getting done on Saturday, it’s about former students getting together and sharing stories,” he said. “I have had a lot of gifted students — I’m proud of what we did for the 28 years I taught building trades.”

Connor Sports of Amasa has donated the hardwood flooring needed to replace the damaged areas and

M.J. Electric will donate all the electrical material and labor for the entire building.

All the original trim is being refurbished as well by a local retired gentleman.

Having the full basement is important, Wender added, as it will house the heating unit, dust collection and equipment room.

“Everyone so far has been so generous,” he stressed. “We don’t have a dime of labor in here.”

Wender’s goal is to have the inside of the school completely finished this spring.

Then he plans to tackle the outside in the summer, including painting, constructing a ramp for the handicapped access, regraveling the parking lot and putting in a well and septic system.

“We already have the septic system donated and hope to get help with the well,” he said.

He is also working with John Kriegl’s CAD students at Kingsford High School, who are designing the handicap ramp.

The non-profit has already established a couple grant writers to help obtain funds needed to purchase equipment.

“Everything in here is going to be top of the line for safety,” he said. “I have had several offers to donate items, but had to politely decline the offer, as everything has to be up-to-date.”

The goal for the nonprofit is to open to the public within two years of the date of purchase — fall 2023.

Pine Creek Woodworking intends to first focus on seniors and veterans. “It will basically be available to anyone who would like to be in woodworking but don’t have the facility or money to do it,” he said.

Anyone using the equipment will be required to go through a safety protocol. Those individuals will then receive an electronic certification card that they can swipe to enter the facility.

Initially, they will have a volunteer supervise the shop to make sure everything is operating smoothly.

“I have already reached out to a number of retired industrial art teachers that are willing to help,” he said.

A number of local saw mills have already committed to donate wood every year that will be available to purchase.

The wood sales will generate income for daily operating costs, such as electric, heating and maintenance.

After they are up and running, Wender wants to offer different trade classes such as basic woodworking, engraving, carving and electrical.

“I want to get young kids back involved in the trades, as a lot of the industrial arts programs have been eliminated from the high schools,” he said. “I also believe a lot of women would be interested.”

A local business owner has also committed to lead framing and furniture refinishing classes.

“We have so many locals that are so knowledgeable in different trades, it would be great if we can pass that on to the next generation and help others,” he said. “That’s what we are here for.”

Pine Creek Woodworking will eventually establish a Facebook page with a schedule of events and classes.

“We are just on the ‘honeymoon stage’ now — we are still learning for this nonprofit,” he said. “We will see where it goes and get better over time.”

The strong positive response so far has organizers thinking they will put an addition on within two years, Wender said.

Fundraisers are planned as well to help with costs. The first is set for Feb. 19 at the Cedar Edge Wine and Gifts in Niagara, Wis. Wender will bring his team of horses to offer sleigh rides at no charge, with donations accepted toward the Pine Creek Woodworking project.

“I feel good that it is going back to a school and what we are going to offer here is unique,” he said.

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