Falling In Love At Centerville Train Depot

For this month's Love In A Small Town feature, we asked Patch readers to tell us the story behind a specific spot in town where they fell in love. For Dirk Lorenz, this spot is the Centerville Train Depot in Fremont, California. Here's his story:

“My wife and I fell in love at the Centerville Train Depot. As the owner of Fremont Flowers, I was asked to decorate the Depot when it opened in 1999 for their annual holiday Christmas tour. I showed up after hours and the cafe proprietor, Lisa Banaag, welcomed me and cooked me dinner as I hung Christmas decorations. (They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach).

The next day I returned to finish decorating, but this time I brought dinner. While decorating, I spoke of my family history in Fremont, which dates back to the 1860s. Lisa says she was taken with the love of family and the long family tradition. And so the dating began.

In the fall of 2000, I popped the question inside the cafe at the Depot. The next year, we were married at Centerville Presbyterian Church and celebrated our reception in the pioneer cemetery on Bonde Way, right next to the Depot.

The original Christmas wreath hung in 1999 constantly hangs over the counter inside the Depot — its circular shape, not unlike the wedding rings we shared the day we were married, is a symbol of a love that has no end.”

— Dirk Lorenz

See all Patch reader love stories here.

For next month's Love In A Small Town feature, we want to know: Have you ever had a chance encounter with someone that led to love? Email your story to locallove@patch.com for the chance to be featured. Get more details here.