Calendar of churches faithfully counts days

January 22, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

salem

Hand-drawn, black-and- white renderings of houses of worship grace the pages of Salem’s Community Calendar for the 2011 “Churches of Salem” theme.

The project of a community calendar, highlighting local areas of importance and interest, was begun in 1984 by the late Anne Farrington Buta.

She headed the project for 20 years until her death in 2005. Her son, Jock Buta, executive vice president at Butech Bliss, a manufacturer of metal-processing equipment, now coordinates the project.

From 1984 to 1991, proceeds from the calendar went to Salem Association for Gifted Education, which Anne Buta had founded. The association now is affiliated with Salem Public Schools. Since 1992, the beneficiary has been Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, where she was a member.

Ashley Johnson, assistant to Jock Buta, said the calendar has had various themes including historical houses, early industrialists and Underground Railroad, which figure in Salem’s history. Johnson said Anne Buta was instrumental in helping South Lincoln Avenue become a registered on the National Register of Historic Places and she also encouraged local artists to create some 200 pen and ink drawings of Salem-area sites.

Johnson, who assists with the calendar layout, credited the backgrounds on churches to Salem Historical Society, which compiled them for Salem’s bicentennial in 2006. She said the calendar continues to “sell well” and some people collect them.

Churches and artists by month are: January, St. John Romanian Orthodox Church, Jock Buta; February, Holy Trinity Lutheran, Marsha DeJane; March, Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith, Ben Demar; April, Calvary Baptist, Alice Gunning; May, Wilbur Friends Meeting House, Sam Kirkland; June, First Presbyterian, Erma Eaton; July, Heritage Baptist, Hannah Johnson; August, St. John’s African Methodist Episcopal, Kirkland; September, First United Methodist, Michael Tolson; October, Emmanuel Lutheran, Steve Rouse; November, St. Paul’s Catholic, Kirkland; and December, First Baptist, DeJane. Overall, 33 churches are included.

The $8 calendars are available at Friends Roastery, Ginger Jar, Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, Salem Historical Society gift shop and Quaker Corner.