Movement Being Made on Several Fronts

This information was published in the Somers Congregational Church restoration news center on March 20, 2013:

Rev. Dr. Barry Cass

I am happy to report there has been a good deal of movement on several fronts this week.  The most noticeable is, of course, the steel that is rising from the foundation.  With the upright beams and many of the cross pieces in place the outline of the church is becoming visible.  The separate floors are obvious, and there are beams marking the balcony, loft and chancel.  It is also possible to see where the ramp will run from the lobby to the foundation room and where the walk-in cooler will sit.  I have heard a lot of positive and encouraging comments from people everywhere I have gone this week.  The snow and ice on Tuesday meant a no work day, but Wednesday morning things were moving along at a good clip again.

We have secured and recorded the necessary permit from the state Department of Transportation so work can move ahead with getting the power line run from the pole to the site of our new transformer.  While this has really not held things up at this point, it is nice to have the go ahead which will make it easier to complete the site work on the west side of the building as the snow melts.

The bell, which many of us watched being cast on March 1, will be lifted into place in the steeple sometime between April 5 and 15.  Although we had thought this would happen in mid-summer, the timing was moved up in order to make use of the crane that is onsite lifting the steel.  The logistics of placing a thousand pound bell in the steeple once it had been constructed would have been a nightmare, so putting it in place sooner and building a temporary protective box around it makes sense.  Because this will be a momentous occasion, once we know a more exact date and time we will get the word out to everyone.

The Restoration Committee announced this week that the work in the Bugbee and Office wings of our facility is done and they have signed off with Green Construction and Restoration on that work.  We have a top rate facility that is providing great space for ministry.  We do still have a temporary boiler in the first floor lobby which will be removed when the boiler has been installed in the new Meeting House.  Green Construction and Restoration, which installed the temporary boiler, will be back to remove it and to return the lobby wall, ceiling and floor to pre-fire condition.  Also at that time the door between the office wing and the Meeting House will be cut through the wall.

Conversation continues with the Insurance Company as we move closer to a final settlement.  The majority of our losses have been addressed and we have agreed to many parts of the settlement, but there remain a few, but significant, items to be settled.  With the Capital Campaign now moving forward we are hopeful that clear numbers will be available any day now.

Our latest update from Richards Fowkes & Company on progress being made building the organ indicates that March has been a very busy month with various parts of the organ being created.  The pipes are more than 50% complete.  Windchests, action, bench, case and keyboards are all in the works.  Many of the separate components are crafted so they are ready for assembly as the organ comes together. 

It is amazing to think that day by day here in Somers and in several other locations, our new Meeting House is coming together as construction and crafts people create the components for us.