BRANDON - Volunteers who saved and restored the Bear Creek Church in rural Brandon have been recognized with a State of Iowa Historical Society Loren Horton Community History Award.

The Bear Creek Church is one of the last remaining country churches in the area. A restoration project for the church began 10 years ago, said Zelda Bower, Bear Creek committee chair.

The small country church building, built in 1902, is the second building on the site. In 1921 it began being used as a voting place until handicapped-accessibility rules in the 1990s left it unsuitable for that purpose.

When the Harrison Township Trustees considered getting rid of the building, the Bear Creek Committee formed to restore the historic church. Since being restored the Bear Creek Church has been used for weddings, baptisms, Christmas parties and funeral luncheons. The original pews, lectern and alter are still on the inside of the church.

Two CDs are available with photos, history and genealogy associated with the church and cemetery and the neighboring area. For information, call Martha Long in Vinton at (319) 472-4465.

Horton award recognizes an individual, group or organization whose outstanding local history project was completed during the previous calendar year.