MORENCI — Work is scheduled to begin soon on replacing the chapel at Morenci’s Oak Grove Cemetery, which had to be torn down after it was damaged in a wind storm in August 2022.

Heavy winds caused one of the old trees near the chapel to snap just above its base and fall onto the building. The impact caused the building to almost fold in half, according to Ted Hutchison, supervisor of the Morenci Department of Public Works.

Cleaning up the damage and demolishing the old chapel cost about $19,000, Hutchison said. The cost of the replacement building will be about $324,000.

Michigan Building Specialties, based in Adrian, was hired by the Morenci City Council in October to construct the new building.

The building will be about 2,000 square feet, like the old chapel, and will have approximately the same layout. The foundation from the demolished chapel will be reused for the new one.

Hutchison said construction should be able to start in March.

Oak Grove Cemetery, which is known for its beautiful old trees, is located west of M-156 on the north side of Morenci. It is one of two cemeteries owned and maintained by the city, with the other being the Old Cemetery on the east side of M-156.