Damariscotta Looks Different

    Yesterday morning I rushed into the office after my early showings, grabbed a camera and jogged up Main Street hoping not to miss the removal of the steeple from the Damariscotta Baptist Church.  For those not familiar with the story, the steeple of the Baptist church is one of the most recognizable figures of the Damariscotta skyline, visible to passersby on Route 1, boaters on the Damariscotta River and from most parts of town. Recently it was discovered that the underpinnings of the steeple were rotten and that the steeple was in danger of falling down. 

   The Church began a campaign to raise funds to remove and repair the steeple and have now gotten to the point where they could remove it and begin the process. Yesterday was the day it was coming off.

   Workers arrived at 4 AM and the initial much anticipated lift off was scheduled for 10 AM.  It was quite an event with the huge crane, lots of men in hard hats, Central Maine Power employees, police and lots of spectators some of whom had brought their lawn chairs.  It was 1 PM before we began to hear creaks and groans as the steeple and it's newly assembled carriage gradually succumbed to the pressure of the crane and finally let go.

   Once loose the crane operator gently and ever so slowly, smoothly moved it over and lowered it to the ground to the right of the church where workmen had prepared a bed for it to sit on. Here she will sit while repairs are made, money is raised and she is reunited with her majestic spot overlooking the town.

   To help you appreciate the size of this look at this picture of the steeple down on the ground!

   So if you are driving north on Route 1, don't miss the exit to Damariscotta and Newcastle because you don't see the steeple.  We're still here!  The town does look very different and it can be a bit jarring to look up and not see the steeple there.  We hope that the church is successful in their fund raising and that by next summer we'll be posting a story about the steeple going back up!

Debby Schling

Comments

[Sue Hunt]

Anyone interested in making a contribution to the Landmark Steeple Fund to help rebuild and raise the steeple may send it to Landmark Steeple Fund, C/O Mitchell Wellman, PO Box 940, Damariscotta, ME 04543

and a big, hearty THANK YOU from the church for noticing and putting this in your blog! Hats off to you! Can you believe there are some people who never even NOTICED? LOL!

[Debby Schling]

You are very welcome. The steeple is such a part of Damariscotta, especially when coming down the ramp from Rte. 1 and looking across the river at night. Just gorgeous! We miss it and look forward to seeing it back where it belongs.