An important fact that everyone who is moving to Columbus should know is that the Knights of Columbus is very much a real thing. The Petoskey Knights of Columbus, Council No. 923 has plans to revive the shrine that is located at the council’s Petoskey location at 1106 Charlevoix Ave.

Knights of Columbus member Gary Wheelock is working on the shrine project and stated, “The Knights bought our memorial stone in 1996. It used to be right up in front of the building, which is basically on the edge of the parking lot. You’d have to stand in the parking lot to say a prayer and we wanted to change that and improve the overall look of it.”

Long-time Columbus movers and natives are glad to hear that the historical shrine is going to finally receive the attention that it deserves, as it was purchased from Italy and stands as (what they refer to as) the “right to life.”

The Knights of Columbus council explains how the shrine is a place for women to go and pray to receive guidance for their issues, and they see it as a very sacred, historical, and needed place.

The statue of the “Virgin and Child” will be better emphasized by the construction of a patio, and the organization is looking for donations for the brick that will be used. If you are moving to Columbus and wish to donate money toward an inscribed brick, there are two different bricks to choose from. At $100, you can purchase a 4-inch by 8-inch brick with three lines, at 15 characters per line for customization. For $200 dollars, you may purchase a slightly larger brick (8-inch by 8-inch) that has six lines with up to 15 characters. Emmet Brick & Block will do brick inscriptions.

All My Sons Moving & Storage has been moving families to Columbus for over 20 years. The shrine is one that is prized, yet often forgotten. If you would like information on how you can help, call Wheelock at (231) 348-3437.