One of the region’s most visible landmarks returned home last Thursday when craftsmen delivered the stout timber framing for the steeple of the Damariscotta Baptist Church.
“We brought the frames for the bell tower and the rafters for the spire and a lot of scaffolding,” said Scott Lewis of Preservation Timber Framing.
Next, craftsmen will re-assemble the steeple.
“They will put it together like LEGOS,” said Walter Hilton, the chair of the independent committee that is raising funds to restore the steeple that has watched over the town since 1843.
Over the years, because of well-intentioned but less than skillful repairs, water seeped into the tower fracturing the large oak timbers that held up the two ton bell, the clock and the steeple.
“The framing shifted and a beam cracked, dropping the structure down about six inches,” said Hilton.
The northeast course dropped and a main beam split. You could pick the beams apart with your fingers, said Paul Goth, the chairman of the church council.
They had to take it down.
Last September, the Preservation Timber Framing workers carted the steeple away to their workshop in Berwick
At noon Thursday, Police Chief Steve Drake escorted the huge flatbed truck loaded with scaffolding and timbers to the church.
Under the watchful eye of Mary Trescott, Goth, his wife Brenda, Hilton, Bob Cain and Abigail Vaughn, 9, craftsmen began unloading the scaffolding and timbers that will become the new steeple.
Workers will spend the summer and part of the fall putting it back together.
Hilton has headed the independent committee that has raised more than $380,000 to restore the landmark steeple. The fund raising committee is not affiliated with the church.
“I did it because this steeple has been a landmark for my community. You can see it and the clock all over town,” said Hilton who does not attend the Baptist Church.
He said it cost about $105,000 to take down the steeple. It cost $189,000 to rebuild the bell tower and the spire. They still must raise $70,000 to rebuild the clock tower and re-do the clock face.
To save money, volunteers will be asked to help with some painting and other tasks, said Goth. A donor has pledged to pay to reinstall the steeple on top of the church, Hilton said.
The town owns the clock, which is currently housed at the Skidompha Library on Main St. Town officials have earmarked $30,000 for its repair and reinstallation.
“This has been a community project from the beginning,” said Hilton. “Now, will you tell your readers we need to find housing for the four craftsmen who will spend the summer putting the steeple back together.”
