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It just seems that the center of Newbury has come alive with the completion of the new Bell Tower on the Center Meeting House. Is it the excellent materials that were used? Could it be the quality of the paint? Did the outstanding workmanship contribute? On a sunny day the new tower literally glows. It is an amazing sight and is well worth the time that it took to marshall the funds that were needed to make it all happen.
Well, we never seem to get a moment's rest when it comes to fundraising? With another $400,000 needed to bring the project to completion it seems that a fundraiser's work is never done.
So what is happening now? We completed an application to LCHIP and their process will extend into mid-January, 2010 before we know whether there is any support from this quarter. An important part of our request included how the cost of this project has escalated time after time as we were able to open up a new part of the meetinghouse and find new and unexpected areas that required restoration or outright replacement. For a town of about 2,000 full time citizens and another cast of thousands who come during the winter or the summer or during the weekends the $900,000 that has been raised so far is far beyond what we ever thought that we would need or be able to raise. Thank you Newbury!
While we wait for word from LCHIP and hope that the town will be able to offer further assistance the citizens of our town are not sitting around waiting. Our program of offering pew sponsorships is breathing new life into fundraising. The meetinghouse has 42 pews and the board of directors determined that we would ask people to sponsor a pew for $5,000 and in return receiv e recognition on a brass plaque that will be placed in the Center Meeting House as well as a page in a Museum Quality Book in which sponsors can document the history of their family or any other remembrances or dreams that they choose.
We are pleased that since the tower went up and as the year draws to a close there has been a significant increase in interest in pew sponsorships. Seventeen pews have now found a sponsor and in the past week alone, five sponsorships have been finalized. Over a dozen other potential sponsors are in the midst of their deliberations about whether to proceed with a donation. It is easy to do the math on how much progress we can make if the remaining 25 pews should receive sponsors. With a lot of good luck and continuing support, it is beginning to seem possible that the Center Meeting House could be completed in 2010.
We hope that you recently received our third annual Newsletter in the mail. Check the application form found inside it for details about the pews, memberships or other news. ANY AMOUNT of help will be put to good use. Over 95% of what we receive goes into the restoration process. So join up as a member and add a little bit more to your check if you can. The Center Meeting House is registered with the IRS as a tax free charity. If you didn't receive your newsletter, or if it got caught up in a Christmas cleanup campaign around the house, just click on the Newsletter icon to the right and you can read it online or print it out again.
The newly restored tower fits right in with the town's new street lights, as shown in the picture to the right.
Thank you Newbury! |
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All seems to be so much more right with the world, at least the world of Newbury, now that the bell tower is back up atop the Center Meeting House. As i was taking pictures of it from different angles and different vantage points it occurred to me that the town center has a nice variety of weather vanes. Looking at the the Town Offices and seeing the Meeting House tower in its place over it just seems to be the way that things in Newbury should be.
The Library weather vane completes the town's trio. It seems like only yesterday that the Newbury Library was expanded. And even more recently the Town Offices were remodeled and expanded. And now the Center Meeting House is closing in on completion with its last exciting phase now behind it. Not that there isn't still a lot left to do! But with the tower up again, it gives us all heart that this project can be completed.
We already knew it, but Newbury IS a great place to live! |
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The Bell Tower Went Up & The Bell Was Rung |
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Dan Wolf's prediction came true. The bell tower went up before the snow flew.
At just before 11 am on Wednesday December 2, 2009, the tower was raised back onto the Center Meeti ng House. A sizeable crowd was there for the event and everyone got a treat they won't soon forget. The crew was ready shortly after 10 am but waited for a few minutes while people continued to arrive to see this historic event. They were not disappointed!
If any of our readers would like us to post additional pictures of the renewed tower, just send them to me at
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and I'll be glad to post them. In this picture, the last few inches were on hold as positioning was checked and double checked so that this million dollar crane will not have to be called back for any adjustments.
Later on, the weather vane was installed and the blue wrapping was removed from the mast. For several days afterward the tower was subjected to additional adjustments, touch ups, and fastening that was taking place out of sight from the exterior. This part of the project is pretty much complete now.
On December 6, 2009, Tracy Messer and his children were given the honor of ringing the bell again after more the eight years of silence. The tree lights were turned on by Alice Lynn, the bell was rung and carols were sung. I heard someone say that this was the biggest crowd that has ever come out for the annual lighting of the town tree. Everyone then retired to the town offices conference room to warm up, eat some of the delicious food provided by the Newbury Beautification Committee and drink some warm cider.
What a day! And what a week! |
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 Everything sits today in readiness for the tower to go back onto the Center Meeting House tomorrow. Tomorrow is December 2, 2009. How we have waited for this day!
In the pictures taken today in mid afternoon we can see the tower which is complete except for a little clapboarding that will be installed after the tower is in place and the mast which still awaits final installation. The picture below shows the mast which sits in readiness for its placement into the dome of the tower.
The man lift sits in readiness for a variety of tasks tomorrow. Removal of the temporary roof installed in the part of the tower still in place; installation of the weather vane once the tower, complete with mast, has been set and secured; final placement of corner pieces and a few clapboards.
 The mast is a little taller than what we have been used to and the architectural detail a little different. Historically, what will be placed on the top of the CMH will be more accurate and in keeping with the time that the building was erected.
By early afternoon, we will all be breathing a sigh of relief and thanksgiving for bringing this monumental project to this key point in its development.
Thanks to everyone who has made this moment possible!
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On Monday November 23 North Branch Construction announced to the Center Meeting House board that the tower is slated to be reset atop the CMH building at approximately 11 am on Wednesday, December 2, 2009. What a momentous event! How long have we waited for this defining moment?
In the picture to the right you can see how clean and refreshed the tower looks. Two structures for lifting the tower by the crane have been attached. Once the tower has been reset on the building, the corner pieces will be re-installed, and finishing touches will ensue.
Just prior to the lift, the mast will be attached and after the lift, the weather vane will be replaced.
Just let your imagination run wild for a moment! In the foreground of this picture is the Town Tree, already strung with lights for the Lighting of the Tree on December 6. At that time, the tower will be up. In the background are the Town Offices and the Library. With the new sidewalk and the new street lighting, we have the quintessential beautiful New England town.
During the town's Visioning Process, every one of the three meetings found great support for a restored CMH that will set the tone for the town's architecture and provide a venue for various larger town meetings.
To that the CMH board adds its vision of a restored meeting house that serves the town and its people in ways that unite and enrich us all. The restoration of the tower is a huge step in bringing all of our hopes and dreams for this town's icon closer to completion.
Thank You Newbury! |
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