Center Meeting House

Work on replacing or restoring clapboards has begun!

Over the past few days the clapboards on the side of the Meeting House toward the lake have been removed.  Having a brown exterior seems to change the whole look of the building.  In this picture taken today, July 28, 2010, it almost looks like the Little Brown School House.  Alice's Tree on the right gives away the secret of the real identity of this beloved landmark building in the center of Newbury.

It is striking that this picture of the Meeting House taken against a bright blue sky shows no signs of the "sway back" that had many of us worrying about the next big snow storm that might bring the building down and end our dreams of a restoration.

Certainly the CMH directors are exhilerated by the prospect of a completed building.  People are stopping me wherever they see me to comment on how excited that they are at the prospects of the building being completed by the end of this summer.

At least one bride is exploring the possibility of an October wedding in the Center Meeting House.  At last the possibility of living up to the second part of our Vision Statement seems to be a distinct possibilty, indeed a probability.

In 2010, eleven thirteen sponsors of CMH pews have come forward bringing the total number of sponsored pews to 26 28.  We have only 16 14 left to go.  This sponsorship program has now raised $140,000 and has been a major factor in helping us to get to a point of letting the final major contracts.  The Town of Newbury with its $100,000 donation and LCHIP with its $100,000 pledge have had a major impact in our ability to move forward at this time.

Contact Doug Whelan at any time if the spirit moves you to sponsor a pew.  The legacy of a sponsorship will pass a precious memory to future generations in your family, in your neighborhood and in your town.