BRANFORD — History has a way of repeating itself. At least in the case of the Pine Orchard Union Chapel.
Back in 1897, money was raised for the construction of the chapel. The Wallace brothers donated the land, neighbors held parties to raise $1,600 and children dug and sold clams and raised nearly $7 for the project.
Now, with extensive renovations needed to preserve the building, neighbors are again working together to raise money. And, they will see their donations at work when the groundbreaking for the restoration project takes place 11 a.m., Oct. 19, at the chapel.
This past summer, Sienna Torella raised some $4,000 selling homemade, fresh pink lemonade, along with tie-dyed masks, bandanas and shirts.
Her slogan, “Raise a Glass of Lemonade to Save Our Beloved Chapel.”
The Mary R. Tisko School third grader talked about the importance of this neighborhood.
“People have a lot of weddings