Historic church needs help to save its steeple

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Members of one of Maine’s most photographed and most historic meetinghouses, the East Machias Congregational Church, need your help: The 170-year-old facility is in danger of losing its distinctive steeple.

This information comes via Gail Menzel of Pembroke who, along with other area residents, is working with local artist Robb Cook on what Menzel describes as “a very long-term campaign” to “Save Our Steeple.”

Last year, Cook organized a fund-raiser featuring music and poetry at the church to launch the project to preserve the steeple, and he’s planned a similar fund-raiser for this year.

“Fixin’ the Steeple,” an afternoon of lighthearted tunes and verse, is 3 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the church. The afternoon’s entertainment features a 1950s flavor.

No admission will be charged, but a basket will be available for your freewill donations.

According to information Menzel provided about the church, the steeple is “noteworthy not only for its design, but for the tower clock and bell.”

The church was built in 1836, and its clock and bell were made in Medway, Mass., by Major George Holbrook, an apprentice and lifelong friend of Paul Revere.

It is one of only two Holbrook clocks remaining in Maine. The other is in the Congregational Church in Eastport.

In 1924, lightning struck the East Machias church and nearly demolished the steeple.

It is believed the clock stopped at that time, and it remained out of order until 1979 when the church’s then-pastor got it to work for a few years.

Last year, community member Dana McKinney greased the bearings and made some adjustments.

About 20 years ago, funded by a historic preservation grant, Belden Morse, owner of Steeple People in Machias, made $40,000 worth of repairs to the church, but no structural work was done at that time.

Morse recently inspected the 125-foot steeple from below, and considers the rotting structure “a liability waiting to happen.”

His estimate to restore it is a staggering $180,000, which explains why those working with Cook realize this is a very long-term commitment.

Obviously, the very small congregation in this small eastern Maine community cannot raise that much money alone.

“What we’re really trying to do is to stimulate interest” in the project, Menzel explained.

To that end, the group is leaving no stone unturned, even if it means renting space in the steeple to a cellular company, she suggested.

Several years ago, work was begun to refurbish the church’s historic 19th century Stevens tracker organ, which was restored to playable condition.

During a special Service of Thanksgiving last April, the Rev. Ed Randall was installed as pastor.

This “Save our Steeple” campaign should not be the sole responsibility of this congregation, nor just the residents of the East Machias area.

I hope others will pitch in generously to help preserve this special piece of Maine history.

Your contributions can be mailed to East Machias Congregational Church, P.O. Box 222, East Machias 04630.

I share with you the contents of a letter the Bangor Daily News received last week from Johna Lovely of Mapleton, mother of the late Erin Sperrey, who was killed in early January, allegedly by a co-worker.

Lovely wrote “to thank our community for the overwhelming support we have received since the death of our daughter.

“I have been amazed by everyone’s kindness and assistance,” she continued. “To date, we have installed one security system in The County (Aroostook) and will be installing approximately 10 more within the month. It is imperative that we get these systems into the places where our young people work,” she added.

“Our ERIN ribbons are beginning to show up on vehicles around town.

“Please put them on your vehicles and remind people” of the importance of making a difference in the lives of “our young workers of today and those coming up in the future.”

She requests that business owners “return your surveys,” and “volunteer for a security system.

“The system will be installed at no cost to you,” although “the monitoring fee is about $300 per year.

“Is your child worth that?” Sperrey asks. “I know mine was worth that and much, much more.”

Grateful for your support, Lovely promises “as a family, and in Erin’s name, we will continue to work hard to see that a tragedy such as this does not happen again in our community.”

To obtain “a ribbon, or to request assistance with a security system,” call 764-3746 or write Lovely, 738 State Road, Mapleton 04757.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.