While NYS PAUSE keeps Belfor Restoration from returning to work in the building, American Eagle has been working hard to make sense of the current rats nest that was our electrical service. The pictures below were taken in the stair well that goes to the basement of the sanctuary. The first pictures show the wires that were in the old set up that still used fuses. The following pictures show the new circuit breaker boxes, the larger one is what was installed earlier this year when some of the system was upgraded. The smaller box will be where the wires from the rats nest will be installed. This is the first step in a number of electrical service upgrades that will be completed in the weeks to come.
Other work still continues as the fire committee works with the insurance company to get a fair and correct settlement on the claim for the organ restoration. We have 2 estimates for the work that are significanlty more than the insurance company’s appraiser’s evaluation, so the company has hired another organ expert to meet with us to provide more information. Being the “tenacious christians” that we are, the fire committee will continue to work (i.e. fight) to get a settlement that is correct. Once again, we want to thank Luke P for his expertise and ability to well express the true value of the instrument and the need to get it back to the condition it was before the fire.
As you know, I brought the handbells and chimes to my home on the day of the fire. Belfor has returned the cases after treating them for the smoke damage and I have contacted Schulmerich Handbells to see about scheduling the clean up that is necessary for the bells. They are closed for the quarantine but we will be sending them a deposit of half so we will be on their waiting list for when they return to work. I will be contacting Malmakr this week to schedule cleaning up of the chimes.