The roof at St. Ansgars Danish Lutheran Church in Pioneer Village recently got a makeover, to the tune of almost $35,000.

"It was very old. It hadn't been replaced since the 1970's," said Fresno resident Jeanette Jurkovich.

Brian Hobbs Roofing, of Clovis, did the work for a negotiated price according to Terry Nelson, chairwoman of the Pioneer Village Commission. In turn the roofer was allowed to place a banner sign on the structure advertising his business facing toward Highway 99.

Nelson said the sign was not going to be there permanently, but also did not know when it might come down.

The work itself was officially done in early June and citizens in the area helped fund the majority of the roof work -- just over $29,000 of it -- through a non-profit group called the St. Ansgars Legacy Fund.

Jurkovich, along with various community members connected to the church decided to create this fund around the year 2000. It was specifically created to improve and preserve the church, which is well over a century old.

"I realized we needed to have a vehicle to raise money and put it to the church building," Jurkovich said. "This seemed like a good vehicle and it's good for Selma."

Jurkovich also said that some donations to this fund have been given as memorial tributes to such Selma residents like Emma Jensen, Queen Nelson, Dwight Nelson Sr., Aden Alexander, Eula Rohe, Mary O'Brien, Helen Keith, Roscoe McKenry and Bill O'Brien.

The Pioneer Village Advisory Commission also gave $5,000 to the project.

In its current state, the building has been used for educational tours for local schools and special events like the recently held Pioneer Village History Day Camp.

Historically, though, the building has seen many years of use.

"That's the oldest, most intact Danish Lutheran Church in California," Jurkovich said.

The building was originally located in Traver and was moved from there to a site northeast of Selma -- the corner of Bethel and Manning avenues -- during the latter part of the 1890's, according to Centennial Selma, a book by local historian and former Enterprise editor Randy McFarland.

A group of Danish families who immigrated to the area and who had no church of their own rented the building. The structure was soon purchased by trustees with the Danish Lutheran Church and was officially named Pella Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1902, according to McFarland's book.

In 1907, church members split over differences in their opinions. One group moved to Selma and created what is now known as Pella Lutheran Church, while another bought the original building and changed the name to St. Ansgars Danish Lutheran Church.

In 1978, amid plans to widen Manning Avenue and demolish the church, the building was moved to its present location at Pioneer Village.

Since that time, the building has been used for a variety of functions including weddings, educational tours and family gatherings.

For Jurkovich, her interest in keeping the church preserved lies in her interest in the history of the area as well as her family's ties to the church. Her great grandfather, Mathias Thomsen, was the first president of the church. Jurkovich herself would occasionally come down from Fresno with family to attend the church during events like Easter, she said.

Plus, Jurkovich said the church is an important part of local history.

Terry Nelson, chairwoman of the Pioneer Village Commission, agrees.

"I think it's important that we honor those gifts of the past and support the city in preserving them," Nelson said.

In her own opinion, Nelson believes preserving the church for the city is very important.

"I love old things (and) I just feel like it would be a travesty to lose something of that age and that beauty," she said.

Still, even though the roof just received a makeover, Jurkovich said the church has other areas that could benefit from improvements.

Because of this, Jurkovich said the St. Ansgars Legacy Fund is currently looking for donations -- which are tax deductible -- to help repaint the exterior of the structure. Those interested in donating can contact Jurkovich at 432-5207.

Even those citizens who've never seen the church will have the opportunity to do so on Sunday, Aug. 10, when the Pioneer Village Advisory Commission and the Selma Fire Department host a water games and picnic day. Tours of the church will be available from noon to 3 p.m. that day, while the games and picnic run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information on the water games and picnic day, call the Selma Recreation and Community Services Department at 891-2237.