D’Aste Women schedule holiday bazaar
courtesy photo
The historic Catholic Church of D’Aste
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CHARLO – Restarting an old tradition, the D’Aste Women’s Service Group has scheduled a holiday bazaar for Saturday, Nov. 24, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Charlo Senior Center. This fundraiser will fund restoration of the former St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of D’Aste, listed in the National Register of Historic Places since March 19, 1999. The bazaar offers a wonderful selection of homemade delights from baked goods and caramels to soaps and other gift items. Sales consultants from well-known home-based businesses, such as doTERRA, Thirty-one Gifts, and Jamberry Nails, will also have tables. Vendor space is still available; call Jennie at 406-360-8051 to reserve a table. Being raffled on Saturday is a large 4-foot high, 15-inch wide Christmas stocking filled to the brim with wrapped presents. Raffle tickets are priced at one for $5; three for $10, or ten for $20. Baked goods and hot coffee are also available.
The service group has celebrated its 100th anniversary since being formed in 1917, when wrapping bandages during World War I was one of the main functions of the group. Over the years, the members served the community by providing meals for funerals and other get-togethers. A lot of money was also raised for school class trips and for families in need. Today, the group has three extremely dedicated individuals working to ensure the church building, built in 1916, continues to exist.
The history of the D’Aste townsite at Dublin Gulch, which is located off of Highway 212, is linked to a lot of families that still reside in the area. The sight of the lone building tugs at the heart calling to remind families that celebrated the start of their lives together at wedding services, laid their loved ones to rest with funeral services, and gathered to pray at this country church. The last Mass was said there in 1978, and the Helena Diocese transferred the title to the nonprofit D’Aste Women’s Service Group in 1998. The group has renovated the building and grounds over the years making it still available for weddings and other celebrations.
The proceeds from Saturday’s fundraiser will go towards repainting the church in the spring, as well as make other improvements to the grounds. The group meets bi-monthly and is open to membership for those would like to preserve this piece of Mission Valley history. Call Jennie Youngren at 406-360-8051 or Jamie Bauer at 406-644-8776, for further information.
