Four Southern Cayuga residents have been working to convert a neglected and abandoned church hall into a busy, welcoming community center. Melissa and Matt Fedrizzi and John and Becky Binns bought the building about two years ago and have poured their own time and money into a major renovation project.

Formerly the social hall of a Catholic church, its new name is Northville Hall.

Melissa Fedrizzi said they chose that name to make a connection with the history of Genoa and King Ferry.

“This area used to be called Northville,” she explained.

According to an account posted on the Town of Genoa Web site, the village of King Ferry was known as Northville in the late 1700s.

Melissa explained her reasoning for buying the old church hall by saying she wants it “to be the southern Cayuga community center.”

“We want to draw in all of the people from southern Cayuga. We want to hold events for young people, like movie nights, bands, open mics. We want it to be a place where youths can go, which would be chaperoned,” she said. “We also want to appeal to different age groups, with nights where families can meet other families. We're going to hold computer classes, crafts and book clubs, too.”

Northville Hall is already showing the signs of new life. The exterior and metal roof have been painted and some of the land has been cleared of brush and overgrown trees. The furnace is working, and the water and electricity are hooked up, but the interior still needs painting and refinishing and the bathrooms are not competed.

This has not discouraged the Fedrizzis and the Binns, who have already started using the hall. They held their first public event, a harvest party, Sunday Nov., 2.

“About 40 people came out,” Melissa said. “Some of them hadn't seen each other in almost 30 years. We had a dish-to-pass contest, and we gave out prizes. Cynthia Warn won for the best harvest, Roberta Parseghian had the best presentation.” Other delicious foods that Melissa mentioned were a zucchini casserole and a “spectacular carrot cake.” Girl Scouts served as greeters, and Grant's Septic provided a portable restroom.

Creating a community hall is strictly a charitable endeavor on the part of the four owners.

“We're not looking to make a profit,” Melissa said. “I moved here from New Jersey, but my father is originally from Aurora. We would come here in the summer. It's nice to give back to the community, and we all feel the same way.”

In return, the community has been showing its support for the work of the Fedrizzis and the Binns. According to Melissa, “Fifteen families have been helping us with electrical work, clearing the trees, designing and planning. We have a player piano and a foosball table. ... and a pool table is coming. We'd like to have a skateboard park.”

Melissa, who still uses her maiden name, Miller, for her real estate business, has also started a ladies' group called the Southern Cayuga Networking Club, which meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

“We meet for an hour. There is no homework; it's just socializing and networking,” she explained. “People have made some great connections already, and it's growing every month.”

Melissa said an example of the networking is based on the premise of “I am, I have, I need.” The people tell a little about themselves and then say they have something they don't need, such as two tickets to the theater, and looking for a referral for a new babysitter. Melissa wants women to come out, even if they don't have “a have or a need.”

Northville Hall needs a plumber, tables and chairs, audio/visual equipment and a few volunteers willing to help out. For more information contact Melissa at 364-5517 or e-mail Melissa.miller@remax.net.