A report last week the Landmark Steeple Trust Fund committee had secured the final $45,000 necessary to complete the restoration effort on the steeple of the First Baptist Church of Damariscotta this summer turned out to be premature.
On July 12, the chief fundraiser for the steeple restoration project, Bob Cain announced the committee had secured the last bit of funding needed to remount the local landmark on top of the church on Damariscotta’s Main St.
However, after press time last week committee chairman, Walter Hilton reported that, due to a miscommunication, the announcement was a little premature.
“Somebody said they would guarantee the $45,000,” Hilton said. “We took that as a donation and in fact, it’s a loan. We would have to pay it back.”
Hilton said the committee has not made a decision on the loan offer but there are several concerns. Putting the steeple up now could complicate further fundraising efforts. If people see the steeple in place, it may diminish the impetus to make a donation to pay off the loan.
Against this background, the window for putting the steeple up this summer is closing fast, Hilton said.
“I understand we have some checks coming in,” Hilton said. “If we don’t put it up (this) week we are going to have to wait a year and that will cost another $30,000 to restart the process because they are going to have to bring in the staging and equipment and put it up all over again.”
On July 20, Cain confirmed the exact nature of the remaining fundraising, whether it’s a loan or donation remains to be determined, and he confirmed the committee has not made a final decision on the issue. Nonetheless there is money available to proceed, he said.
“To my knowledge a gentlemen has raised half of the money and he’s guaranteed the $45,000 one way or the other,” Cain said.
Cain showed a July 19 email, apparently from contractor Arron Sturgis of Preservation Timber Inc. confirming Sturgis’ plans to raise the tower box on July 21. According to the email, Sturgis said the spire and belfry will follow later with a second crane, but likely not this week.
“Please fill in the details regarding how the loan will be accessible as we move forward, Thank you for all your hard work on this,” Sturgis wrote.
Donations to the cause may be sent to the Landmark Steeple & Clock Restoration Fund, c/o Mitchell Wellman at The First, NA, P.O. Box 940, Damariscotta, 04543.
