Last Thursday was the deadline for Whitefield Union Church to respond to a 10-day correction order from the town’s code enforcement officer.
In mid-October, Arthur C. Strout issued the order to church deacon Earl Lemieux seeking a “specific plan of action” to address the tilting steeple atop the 140-year-old church in Kings Mills. “I cannot stress enough the seriousness of this situation,” wrote Strout.
Along with town fire chief Jim Brann, Strout met last fall with Lemieux because of concerns about the steeple’s condition. The CEO told Lemieux he should consult an engineer to get direction about repairing, replacing or removing the structure.
In his letter Strout writes, “Since I have not heard anything regarding your progress and it has moved even more, something now needs to be done because should it come down on its own, the probability of more damage and/or injury to property and/or people in the area presents too great of a risk. Additionally, any legal ramifications would be even more costly to the church.”
Over the weekend, Lemieux said there are three remaining members, including himself and his wife. He said the only thing he could think to do was “throw a cable around (the steeple) and pull it down. Or else dynamite it.”
In 2007, when state preservation and foundation groups created the Maine Steeples Project, a volunteer committee of interested Whitefield community members formed to seek fundraising help for restoring the steeple. To apply for grants, the group needed to obtain proof of ownership or opinion of title. Talks with the church pastor and several members, who were then organized as Whitefield Full Gospel Fellowship, broke down two years ago December over charges the committee was attempting to gain ownership of the church. The pastor resigned in July 2008.
Reached Monday, Strout said he had been unsuccessful in reaching Lemieux concerning his plans. “I guarantee something’s going to happen.”
Strout said he has not pursued condemning the building partly because the Whitefield Food Pantry, in the church basement, assists hungry families in the area.
Asked to respond to the CEO’s order, former restoration committee chairman Tom Pierpan said he had “no comment whatsoever.”
