The Top of the Common Committee 

 Lunenburg Vermont

       Congregational Church Steeple Spire Update

A very busy and productive six days...

arrival of the 135' articulating lift

removal of ball & weathervane

    fabricating corner moldings

  new panels receiving primer
        and first coat of paint

               Reinforcing the framing

      Lower sections of new panels in place

   Ready for remaining panel sections

  The steeple spire repair and painting have been completed

      Painting of the steeple spire began July 19 at the top, with the ball and weathervane… they needed a little tender love which they have received. This wasn't a surprise, since we did the best we could to evaluate them and the spire with a drone and binoculars before the work began.
      When the sanding began a short time later it quickly was determined that the panels were beyond a little tender love… they could not be repaired… they needed to be replaced! This was a surprise! Within hours, members meet, considered the options, and determined that the work needed to continue.
      New wood was purchased, on July 20 the cutting to size began with the lower portion of the panels along with new corner molding being fabricated on site. While on the ground, panels for the lower portion received two coats of primer and one coat of paint. The corner molding received the same coatings front and back.
      On July 21 the framing was "beefed up", providing a solid, sturdy, girding to which the lower portions panels have been attached. The next day, preparing of the remaining panel sections began. Progress in these few days was amazing!
      On July 25, after some weather delays, many hours of work off site, and a very long final day, the new panels and corner molding were installed, caulked, and painted, and the repaired, painted, and sealed ball and weathervane are in place - all without the need of any additional lift rental time!
 
Needless to say, these repairs involve additional costs to the original contract price. We are thankful that our contractor is very well equipped to do the carpentry work needed! The local volunteer labor contributions helped to move repairs forward faster and with less expense. It was our hope the lift rental would not need to be extended (multiple thousands of dollars a week even with our non-profit rate), at least for no more than a day. All of the repair work is an amendment to our contract, so the additional costs will be due when the job is completed.
 
Recovering these additional costs will replenish funds intended to be used toward the 2025 painting of the remainder of the steeple. We’d be grateful for any monetary assistance offered to offset these unexpected costs; no donation is too small (really!). The Top of the Common Committee has tax exempt status as a 501(c)3 public charity so all contributions are tax deductible. A donate button is found at the bottom of each page on this website for your convenience. If that doesn't work for you, a check can be sent to the address shown there or by calling the number given, other options can be discussed.
Volunteer help with our many annual fundraising community events is also of tremendous value and would be very much appreciated.

    THANK YOU to every person who has supported this project with a donation.
We have recovered approximately 40% of our additional costs!!!
Updates on this "no longer simple" painting project will continue to be given here.

late updated 10/15/24 1:45pm