The pages of the Uphill Racer have contained
many articles about the agency, and details
concerning its programs, activities
and people. If
you are not
one who has visited here, however, you
may not know about Friendship Village,
the place.
In 1975, we were very
fortunate to be able to purchase the 22 acre tract on which we are located.
Just 2 miles south of the city limits, our property contains 4 day use
buildings, 2 maintenance buildings, 5 houses, as well as it’s own water and
septic systems.
A five minute
walk south of the Administration Building, through the grass and many
trees of the Village, one will find Covel Creek.
The creek meanders through about a quarter mile of Village woods,
wildflowers and picnic areas.
This area is home to
many varieties of trees and other native plants. In fact, one area of about 5
acres is divided by the creek, and is so densely wooded that it is accessible
only by foot path. The area
is frequented by blue herons, wild turkeys, deer, beaver, and many other types
of wildlife.
The area is home to
many native wildflowers as well, including
Jack in the Pulpit, Bloodroot, Woodland Phlox, Yellow Buttercup and Virginia
Bluebells.
The picturesque
Wilderness Chapel, located near the creek has been the scene of several weddings
since its being built in 1982. The
highlight of this structure is the original stained glass window facing the
woods.
Perhaps the most
visible part of Friendship House is
our blue water tower. This
structure is a familiar sight for persons driving on rt. 23 south of Ottawa. The tower holds 25,000 gallons of
water. Besides supplying the agency
and it’s sprinkler systems, the tower also serves as an emergency water supply
for the Grand Ridge Fire Department.
In 2003, the tower was repainted to its
blue color, along with the familiar Firebird emblazoned on it’s side.
Pictures
of the Village grounds can be found at our website, by clicking on the Images link.