The smallest church in Mower County received a big donation for renovations recently.

Delmer Staples, who passed away Dec. 3, 2014, left $10,000 to the Mower County Historical Society to use for repairs and restoration of the Kehret Wayside Chapel, which currently sits on the Historical Society’s grounds at the Mower County Fairgrounds.

“It’s always gratifying that someone would remember the historical society,” Historical Society Executive Director John Haymond said. “And have the confidence in us to give us a gift knowing we will use it going forward.”

The chapel was built as a wayside prayer chapel that sat beside a country road in Mower County. The chapel can only hold about five people, and Haymond said he can lie down flat and reach both sides. Over time, the chapel acquired a reputation and name of its own, and was moved to the historical society’s grounds to ensure its survival.

There was even a double wedding at the chapel about 60 years ago with the Hoffman twins and their wives, who were sisters — LaVerne and Norma, and Vernon and Margaret.

“The fellows kind of knew the family I guess, and they thought it was so nice that they built that little chapel out there, and they knew the Kehrets for years,” Norma said.

Norma said the two couples, the pastor, and a few family members all fit inside the chapel during the wedding.

“We had a full house,” she laughed.

Norma said the chapel is still close to their hearts. Whenever the fair comes around the four of them enjoy visiting the building.

Haymond said Staples left the money for the chapel because of a family connection. Staples lived on the Kehret farm for years while growing up.

Historical society leaders didn’t know the money was left to them, but it turned out to be good timing as the chapel was in need of repairs. Haymond said the steeple needs reconstruction to stay in place during windy days and storms, and the chapel has had flooding over the years, so the concrete pad it sits on needs to be raised about six inches. He also hopes to complete roofing repairs.

“We had just gotten to the point where we were faced with the prospect of having to do some much needed repairs to it,” Haymond said.

Along with the repairs, Haymond hopes to have some left for upkeep of the chapel, although he did not yet know the cost of the repairs.

There’s still planning to do, as historical society leaders need to find a contractor qualified to complete the repairs. Haymond said the Kehret Chapel is open all week during the Mower County Fair, though because it’s so small it is often overlooked and many people haven’t seen inside.