PAGES

Chamber mixer showcases Section House

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Drew and Johanna Ytterberg have

always loved throwing a good party.

On Labor Day, they used to throw parties all the time on and stress went into putting this together but we’re so happy… It’s a work in progress but at least to a point where we’re happy where we’re at,” Drew said. In addition to an expansive downstairs their farm in Galien.

“It was live music, kegs, it was so much fun…We love to bring the community together, we love celebrating,” Johanna said, adding that their Labor Day party was “the thing.”

Seeing as how they loved celebrating from time to time with family and friends, it would make sense that the couple would decide to eventually open a permanent spot for celebrations beyond their home.

The result is Section House, a wedding and event venue in a renovated 100-yearold lumber building at 5896 Sawyer Road in Sawyer.

The venue is aptly located next to the railroad tracks (the definition of section house is a “building or house-like structure located next to or near a section of railroad for housing railroad workers, or for the storing and maintenance of equipment”).

“For some time, sweethearts have sought to make their ties together here in Harbor Country and they have created a place that’s a wedding destination of their dreams - Section House brings a new and fresh take on a venue that will add to those treasured memories for generations to come,” Kimberlee Wendt, executive director of the chamber, said during a ribbon-cutting at a mixer for the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce Thursday, Jan. 12.

After buying the building in 2011, the Ytterbergs ran it as Sawyer Hardware and Lumber Yard. Then, after nearly 10 years, they decided it was time for something different.

‘We just decided, ‘Let evolve it to something else,” Johanna said

Through the years, Johanna said Drew has “beautified” the building. They strove to keep the “original quality” of the building, which she described as being industrial, and “modernize” it, she said. The original floors have been preserved.

“It was a lot of hard work - a lot of tears space with a bar, there’s the Bridal Suite Loft with a walkout deck that overlooks the fenced in outdoor green space (which is ideal for outdoor ceremonies) with a loading station that still stands. The Groom’s Green Room has a private terrace, with views of the historic railroad tracks. The conversion from hardware and lumber yard to event venue took a year and a half. Last October, it opened to the public. “We’ve already had a handful of weddings and events and we hope to bring more music into town and pop-ups and photoshoots - we’re kind of open to it all,” Johanna said. Last December, 22 vendors participated in a holiday market there. They plan to make those a holiday tradition and may even hold a spring one.

Those who want to schedule

an event can visit www. sectonhoseusawyer.com and click the contact button, which leads them to an email that will come through to Johanna. There’s also a Facebook page as well as Instagram.

Section House also hosts rehearsal dinners and private dinners, including renting the bridal loft for very small events and the back room for smaller dinner parties. Photographers have even scheduled private photo shoots there.

The space has a capacity of up to 300 people.

Johanna said they don’t provide the food inhouse and cater it out, which includes working with different caterers (depending on which one the customer wants for their event). While they don’t have a liquor license yet, she said they can have liquor but must have it come through a beverage service.

The mixer also showcased offerings from Seedz Brewery, Classic Catering & Events and Hickory Creek Winery. Wedding design and planning team White Dahlia and Co was also present.

Carly Kveton, Eric and Julie Haberichter and Traci Hauseman mingle at Section House

The upstairs at Section House

Chamber members mix and mingle donwstairs at Section House

Chamber members congregated in the downstairs room of Section House

Ashli Kauffman talks with Chris McLaughlin during the monthly mixer Drew and Johanna and children Jones, Harrison and Mary get ready to cut the ribbon on Section House with Kmberlee Wendt (left) and Karen Poff (right)

Guests enjoy the bar at Section House

Chamber members mingling in the downstairs of Section House

Upgrades planned for historic venue

BY STAN MADDUX

An approximately $6 million renovation is planned at the Civic Auditorium in La Porte to make things more comfortable for people attending the talented players in the country. More classic rock tribute band concerts are scheduled to perform in the coming weeks and months. Dermody believes the original seats being growing number of events at the historic venue.

The upgrades include replacing the original wooden seats in the structure built in 1929.

Aisles between the seating areas will be widened and hand rails added to improve safety while climbing up and down the stairs to and from the seats.

Air conditioning will also be installed to allow for more events during the summer when the temperature inside the gymnasium and formal stage on the main level can become rather sweltering.

A new heating system will also be installed to replace one of the boilers from the 1960s.

Director of La Porte Civic Auditorium Brett Binversie said the work is scheduled to begin June 11 and finish Aug. 25.

“We’re trying to make the experience a little better for everyone,” he said.

There are more than 1,000 seats above the gymnasium floor and formal stage.

Over the years, the facility has been used for a wide variety of events ranging from musical concerts and shows by major, regional and local performers to circuses, basketball games and the annual Veterans’ Day ceremony.

After taking office in 2020, Mayor Tom Dermody, who felt the facility was used too sparingly, sought to bring in more events drawing good sized paying crowds.

He wanted to make the city owned facility more self-sustaining and provide additional entertainment options.

The outcome has included several concerts by classic rock tribute bands last year and twice hosting nationally televised basketball tournaments featuring some of the most narrow and without cushioning along with lack of air conditioning hurt the facility’s ability to reach its full potential. The already chosen new seats are wider, cushioned and have cup holders to place drinks ordered from the concession stand “It’s called progress and now it’s time,” he said. Handicapped seating will also be created. ”It’s a win, win for everybody and we can’t wait for this to occur,” Binversie said. The building, which already has airconditioned space in the basement for banquets, meetings and other functions, was donated to the city in 1930 by Maurice Fox. He was the son of Samuel Fox, owner of Fox Woolen Mills and a major employer for decades beginning in the late 1800s, according to history.

As a tribute to his parents, the younger Fox had the building constructed to reflect his vision of a facility for use by the general public.

He donated the structure to the city in 1930.

To preserve some of the history, Binversie said an attempt will be made to repurpose some of the original seats and use the same color schemes that are currently inside the gymnasium during the renovation.

Funding for the work will come primarily out of the $11 million in COVID-19 relief money the city received from the federal government.

“We’ve invested so now let’s see the return and bring even bigger names people can expect to see right here in LaPorte,” Dermody said.