Community Corner

Somers Congregational Church Working Towards Rebuilding

According to the church Web site, the building may look the same, but a lot of things have been going on behind the scenes.

This information was published in the  restoration news center on Feb. 20, 2012:

Although the church building looks pretty much the same when you drive by, there have been a lot of things going on behind the scenes in preparation for what will become a very visible rebuild. The various committees established after the fire have been going about their work.

The Insurance Committee continues to gather inventories in order to determine the extent of our loss. They have also met with the Estimator and which means there can be so e contact with the insurance company with regards to the final settlement. The process of determining loss and the amount of the settlement will be a long and arduous job that will be critical to our final rebuild. Anyone who is supposed to have completed an inventory should have done so and those who are not yet done need to have everything into the Insurance Committee next week. There will undoubtedly be some question about the inventories, so we want to keep the process moving along as smoothly as possible.

Find out what's happening in Ellington-Somerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Artifacts Committee has been able to work with the insurance company to collect some things from the Meeting House rubble. Because the company will pay us for what has been lost, everything there in reality belongs to them. We have been lucky to work out some arrangements in order to keep some representative pieces of our history. The fire was so hot and so inclusive that there has been very little remaining for saving. The Artifacts Committee has also done a great deal of research and will be able to offer us some choices about what to do with the church bell. It has been removed from the site and is stored in a secure, undisclosed location.

In the next few days the Restoration Committee will begin choosing carpet, cabinets, countertops and finishes for the Bugbee Center. All of the lower cabinets on the first floor will be replaced, as well as upper and lower cabinets in the kitchen. Carpet on the first floor is also being replaced. Because of the water damage and removal of sheetrock all of the walls on the bottom floor will be repainted as well. This work will begin as soon as the asbestos abatement is completed. The extent of the asbestos issue is greater than we had first realized and its removal is strictly regulated and watched by environmental agencies.

Find out what's happening in Ellington-Somerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Organ Committee has made a couple of visits to area churches in order to hear different types of pipe organs so that they can make an informed recommendation to the Building Committee about both type and location of the organ in the rebuilt sanctuary. They have also consulted with a couple of experts who have offered sound advice about the direction in which we should move.

The Building Committee has interviewed several architectural firms and made visits to their offices in order to be able to recommend the appropriate architect for the rebuild. They are very close to making a recommendation. In addition to this they have also continued to receive and review suggestions from members of the church about enhancements and updates to be included in the rebuilt Meeting House. Suggestions and concerns have included thoughts about everything from the type of floor in the new kitchen, to the size and location of a new narthex, to the location of the organ and choir loft, to the design of the chancel. The members of the committee are open to all suggestions and comments and have found it helpful to hear creative and thoughtful ideas.

The renovations on our house at 603 Main Street are nearly completed. Interior walls and ceilings damaged by the fire have been replaced and painted. Windows and siding on the west side of the house, also damaged by the fire, have been replaced and the roof which sustained water damage has been replaced. We are expecting to have new tenants in the house in the near future.

Although the church has not solicited contributions, they have continued to come in the mail and by e-mail and various people and businesses in the community have continued to raise and contribute funds for our rebuild. A great Murder Mystery Dinner Theater this past weekend was great fun and raised some funds. We are grateful to the Rev. Todd Farnsworth and our sisters and brothers at the Belchertown, MA United Church of Christ. Carianne Kelley is contributing the tips she receives from her haircut clients, and Moe’s Wings and Pizza has continued to give their support and raise funds.

In the very near future the current Entrance driveway at the church site will be closed and the current Exit driveway will become two-way. This will help avoid collisions with equipment being used on the site, give better access to the contractors and prevent damage to tires and cars coming to the church office. Please observe the change and drive carefully.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22, and we will have worship at 7 P.M. in the auditorium at the Community Education Building at Johnson Memorial Medical Center, where our Sunday worship has been for the past few weeks. During the Lenten Season I will be preaching a sermon series on grief and mourning, in part as a response to the feelings members and friends of the church have had since the fire. As always, everyone is welcome to join us for worship and 8:15 and 10 A.M. (Child care and Sunday School during the 10 A.M. worship).


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