Date: Fri 18-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Studley-Paisley-renovations

Full Text:

Renovations At The Meeting House

(with photo)

BY SHANNON HICKS

For the first time since ownership of the Newtown Meeting House changed hands

ten years ago, the Heritage Preservation Trust is doing a major renovation job

on the historic building at 31 Main Street in Newtown. Walls are being

painted, carpet is being put down, and this winter, those who meet in the

meeting house will feel warmth emanating from a brand-new furnace.

The Newtown Meeting House this week began having its chimney relined. This is

the first step in a $90,000 project to renovate building.

"It's been close to ten years since we initially took over the building," Don

Studley said this week. Mr Studley is the president of Heritage Preservation

Trust, the 501(c) organization responsible for the maintenance, preservation

and upkeep of the meeting house.

Formerly the home of Newtown Congregational Church, the building was sold in

December 1988 for $1 to the town by the church when its congregation moved

into its new building on Castle Hill Road. The town owns the building, but

Heritage Preservation Trust of Newtown, Inc. has signed a 50-year lease with

the town.

"There are needs for several different things to be done," Mr Studley

continued. "We're going to be putting in a new furnace, primarily out of

necessity. The old one finally conked out.

"The furnace, we've kind of been holding it together with Band-Aids since we

took over in 1988, but it's finally given up a good fight." The furnace alone

is going to cost about $30,000.

Scaffolding went up at the meeting house Tuesday afternoon, when a team from

Solid Flue Chimney Savers arrived to begin relining the building's chimney.

The company was contracted for the job through J.P. Maguire Associates of

Newtown.

Todd Perkins and Dave Grinch are handling the chimney work. The two should be

done in about a week.

"We should be done next Tuesday or Wednesday," Mr Perkins said Wednesday

afternoon. Weather should not be a factor in completing the job, he added.

This first step was deemed necessary after employees from Charles Edgerton,

Inc. told members of Heritage Preservation Trust that the chimney as it stood

would not be able to handle the heat of a new furnace, according to Mr

Studley. Once the chimney work is finished, Charles Edgerton, Inc. will be

fashioning the meeting house with its new furnace.

Also on the list of work to be done this fall is a painting job. The interior

and the exterior will both be redone. According to Sherry Paisley, a trustee

of the meeting house and the building's scheduling coordinator, before the

paint job begins, there are also a few "little things" that need to be

repaired. The louvres in the steeple will be fixed, and there are a few loose

boards that also need attention before a new coat of paint is applied to the

building. The building will also be power-washed so that any loose paint is

removed before new paint is put on.

The same painting company that did the meeting house's renovations a decade

ago, Brothers Antique & Vintage Restoration, from Fairfield, was re-hired for

the painting job.

"They did a super job before, so we were anxious to have them back," Mr

Studley said. The painting work will not begin until October 1 or so, said Mrs

Paisley.

Next to be taken care of will be the carpeting of the building. The carpet on

the main floor of the two story building is ten years old, and has seen a lot

of use, so the trustees feel it is time for replacement.

"We have found that because the sun is so strong on the south side of the

building, the carpeting is actually scorched. It's black along a good part of

the aisle [on the main floor] along the south side. It's amazing," Mr Studley

said.

To prevent the new carpet from the same fate as the old carpet, the trustees

hope to tint the windows, at least on the south side of the building, he said.

"We are hoping to be able to pay for that ... but we just don't have the money

right now," he said. "We don't [want to repeat] this heavy sun problem."

The building's bathrooms also need to be replaced, said Mr Studley. Future

plans also include the desire to put air-conditioning into the building.

"We have given some thought to that," he said. "Long-range, we'd like to

consider putting it in at least upstairs."

Ongoing Fundraising Efforts

Funds to pay for such work on the magnificent building at the top of Church

Hill Road comes in large part through private donations and fundraising

campaigns. A large part of the renovations being done this year comes as a

direct result of a bequest from the estate of the late Ruth Calderwood.

"Much of the money for these renovations came from her," Mr Studley said this

week. "A good part of it is thanks to her." The board of the Historic

Preservation Trust is considering how to raise fund for the continued work on

the building.

In the past, the trustees have "sold" the pews inside the building's gathering

area to families and groups who wanted to help preserve such an integral part

of the town. Plaques are placed on the end of each pew with the names of those

who have purchased each section. The trustees have also offered the pillars of

the main floor for sale as well. Additionally, says Sherry Paisley, there have

been "several significant donations" during the years from the public.

Before beginning the current project, the Historic Preservation Trust had

spent close to $175,000 on refurbishing the building. The majority of that

money was spent in 1988-89, when the trust first took over the building's

maintenance and did almost a complete overhaul. The building was in desperate

need of attention, not only to make it presentable once again, but also to

bring the historic landmark up to modern fire code safety regulations. About

$30,000 was spent later to make a handicapped-accessible kitchen and bathroom

in the basement, recarpet the downstairs and install a handicapped walkway and

entrance outside.

The new project will bring the total amount spent on preservation efforts

close to the $265,000 mark.

The Meeting House is part of Newtown's Historic District. Since its takeover

by the town and Historic Preservation Trust in 1998, the building has been

listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

"It really has a lot of appeal to people," said Mr Studley. "First of all,

it's right at the head of Main Street, so people see it from all directions.

We'd really have a hole in our landscape if it weren't there.

"From a civic view," he continued, "before the days of separation of church

and state, all town business was conducted at the meeting house. So there's a

historical significance to the building as well as an aesthetic architectural

need to preserve it."

Today, the building is used by garden clubs, artists' clubs and other

community and government groups. There is no charge for groups to use the

building, unless groups are presenting a show and admission is charged to the

public to enter the show.

The Community Presbyterian Church congregation rents the meeting house for its

Sunday worship and weekly Bible study. The building is also rented for

weddings and funerals.

All of the current work is expected to be finished by late fall.

"I really think it will be pristine again," said Mrs Paisley.

Sherry Paisley can be reached by calling 270-8293. Donations are always

gratefully accepted for the building's continued upkeep.