Reborn as store in Historic Smithville
By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
Pomona Union Protestant Church is getting reborn, but not in the way you might expect.
Earlier this year, construction crews swarmed the historic building, stabilizing the structure and lifting the roof into the sky via crane. The Galloway church was taken apart piece by piece and moved from its original location on Genoa Avenue to Smithville, where it now exists as a retail store.
Steve Hauck, the owner of SJ Hauck Construction, led work on the move, and has experience in transplanting historic beach houses and community centers. Hauck said that he appreciates the church and its role in South Jersey, and is honored to be leading the important work.
“Anyone who’s local knows of this church and it would be devastating to get torn down,” he said. “So it’s phenomenal what we’re able to do, it’s phenomenal that Historic Smithville is taking it.”
The church has become Indulgence Home Bath and Beyond (the sister store to Smithville Candle Co.), a mom-and-pop boutique offering specialty soaps, skincare products, and lotions, colored beautifully by the sunlight streaming through the original stained glass windows. You can find the church adjacent to the Smithville Bakery.
The Pomona Union Church was established in 1890 and served as an interdenominational place of worship. The Booth brothers, Harold and Arthur, collectively donated the land to the congregation and helped build out the church family. Many longtime residents of Galloway remember attending Sunday School, getting baptized, or enjoying a church potluck meal.
Like many organizations, during the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance dwindled to the extent that the church stopped Sunday morning service altogether. In the years leading up to 2020, Pomona Union Protestant struggled to keep the doors open and faced constant problems with vandalism.
David Booth, one of Harold Booth’s grandchildren, drove up with his family from Egg Harbor Township to witness the transfer. He recalled how his father’s cousin used to teach Sunday school at Pomona Union and how his family had served as trustees and caretakers for the church. Booth shared that he was grateful the building would be preserved but did call the moment “bittersweet.”
Mayor Anthony Coppola, who is also another owner of The Historic Towne of Smithville, said that he felt confident in SJ Hauck and felt proud of the success of the project. “We think it’s a really cool piece of Galloway history,” Coppola said. “We’re honored to have it here.”
