The Corrales Historical Society is seeking community volunteers to help renovate a kitchen and restrooms at the Old Church.
The Old Church annex, constructed in 1986 by the Corrales Historical Society (CHS), was equipped with modern amenities, including restrooms, a kitchen, an office and an attic. Now, the CHS is seeking volunteers to help modernize and upgrade the kitchen and restrooms to enhance functionality during community events. The project began July 1 and is projected to continue through mid-August.
“We decided to undertake this project of renovating the kitchen and the bathrooms because all of the equipment in there was pretty dated and needed an upgrade,†Ken Martinez, president of the CHS, said.
Built in 1868, the Old Church lacked running water and other modern comforts, prompting the CHS to construct the annex and bring 20th century amenities to the 19th century building. As custodians of the village’s history, the CHS stores a wealth of archival materials — including photographs, maps, and artifacts — in the annex’s attic.
One of the planned improvements is to install mini-splits in the restrooms and kitchen to provide cooling. However, additional work is required, including installing plumbing fixtures, laying tile, painting and installing cabinets and counters.
“We welcome people with skills, whether it be drywall or paint or whatever but we welcome everyone willing to help because we have all kinds of jobs that don’t require skills,” Martinez said.
According to Martinez, there is no specific time requirement for volunteers; individuals can choose to work for an hour or the entire day. They want people to feel comfortable with any time that they can spare.
To ensure that the volunteers are well-fed, the CHS is reaching out to its members and Corraleños, asking for support in providing lunches for four to five people each day. Village Pizza and Hannah and Nate’s helped with lunches the first week.
“We just hope that when this is all done, the community is going to enjoy a brand new kitchen and bathrooms that will enhance their experience at the Old Church,†Martinez said.
Those interested in volunteering can reach out to Ken Martinez at 505-980-5837 or project director Jeff Jones at 505-977-9264 or email chspreservation@corraleshistory.org.