|
Our new Steeple DVD is now available for sale locally and through this web site!Our new DVD includes a main menu from which seven sets of images can be accessed. The viewing time of the entire DVD is 43 minutes, 37 seconds. The sets include:
About theTop of the Common Committee - 1:22
Steeple Removal - 4:37
Church Restoration Work - 3:10
Raising the Steeple movie - 13:15
Installing the Weathervane Movie - 5:07
Steeple Raising Movie (another take) - 11:09
Raising the Steeple Slide Show - 4:57
The cost is $10; the full amount of the purchase price benefits the TOCC projects.
A local purchase can be made by calling 802-892-6654.
A purchase through the mail can be made by sending a check or money order to: The Top of the Common Committee, PO Box 195, Lunenburg, VT 05906. An additional $2.75 should be included for first class postage to anywhere in the US.October 17
Over a hundred people joined us for our celebration on the Common! We were blessed with perfect fall weather, a huge selection of very delicious food, great conversation and music that made you want to dance. "Thank you" to the cooks, to the volunteers, to the musicians, and to every one who stopped by - it truly was a community event!
 
great cupcake creation photogenic again 
music by "Wing-it" livened up the festivities
October 4
Today the steeple was raised to its majestic position on top of the Congregational Church! Volunteers were on the scene early to make preparations. Kingdom Crane of Saint Johnsbury arrived shortly before 9 AM. The crowning touches - weather vane, directional letters, ball and topper - were added around 11:30. "Thank you" to our volunteers, photographers and those who stopped by to witness this historic event! We hope you will plan to join us for our community celebration - details will be available soon on this web site and in local newspapers.
  October 2
Today the work on the steeple was completed! IF the weather plays out according to the most recent forecast, the crane will be arriving on Sunday morning. A community celebratory event is in the works - details of the date, time,
and location will be posted on this web site as soon as they
are available. We hope you'll plan to join us!  
final caulking sealing the cone capSeptember 22
Yesterday the last piece of carpentry repair was completed! Today all the remaining bare wood on the steeple was primed. Weather permitting, the paint will begin to be applied tomorrow - the only areas left to paint are the upper stepped section and the spire.
September 18
Today the restored shutters were returned to their position on the octagonal drum section between the two stepped sections. All the horizontal aluminum pieces have been installed on the top stepped section. The painting is done on the skirt, lower stepped and drum sections. September 15
The painting volunteers began today to apply the first coat of paint on the primed sections of the steeple. The extra sets of hands are a tremendous help! Simultaneously the carpenters are finishing up the metal work on the upper stepped section. The weather forecast is looking good - so keep checking back here for further progress reports...  There are a few jobs that could be done by volunteers to help out our restoration efforts. If you'd like to learn more about them and maybe volunteer a little of your time, please contact us at comments@topofthecommon.org. You're under no obligation for inquiring! If helping toward the cost of materials for the restoration project is the way in which you'd prefer to help, pick the most convenient way to connect with us through our "contact us" page or learn how to donate electronically HERE.
Through September 1, 2009
A great deal of progress has been made on the first stage of the steeple restoration project. The Top of the Common Committee is grateful to our volunteers - Larry Amadon, Tim Betts, Henry Lingley, Gary Fournier, Larry Weidemier, Tom and Theresa Lewis, Carroll Macie, Trevor and Mary Jane Colby - as well as to those many "encouragers" who have stopped by to visit. To date our volunteers have logged over 400 hours!
The lower portion of the steeple (the rim, the ceiling, the two octagonal stepped sections, and the section in between) has been repaired with all new wood and primed. To prevent further decay of the horizontal pieces of the stepped sections, they are being covered with aluminum. When they are done, flashing (like a ridge cap) will be placed at the junction of each step around the octagonal. Four of the eight sections of the spire have been repaired and primed. Most of the lumber of the spire was able to be retained with some spot treatment of compromised sections with an epoxy based wood cell strengthener product. The eight shutters, which will be mounted on the octagonal surface between the upper and lower stepped sections, have been stripped, repaired and painted.
The Congregational Church Restoration and Preservation Society, the legal caretakers of the building, have agreed with the carpenters' recommendation to replace the existing weathervane. The TOCC wants to thank Garland Mills for their generous and sincere efforts to locate a suitable piece of wood for us; a piece owned by a Lunenburg resident has been donated and the weathervane has been constructed from it using a templet of the current one. A new wooden ball, which is positioned above the weathervane, has been turned, using new wood - the one that was on the steeple when it was removed was broken into many pieces, with parts missing, and in very compromised condition. The multi-pieced tip of the spire was reconstructed of copper to reduce future weather infiltration. The projected date of the hoisting of the restored steeple is before the snow flies in 2009. Armor Lightning Protection of Manchester Center, Vermont has been contracted by the Committee and on June 24th began to update the present system to current UL (Underwriter Laboratory) 96A and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 780 specifications. The present system was installed in 1955. |