Part 1 of this update is from an email sent by Peter S to the fire committee. No point in me rewriting it as he did an excellent job covering what is happening:
Friends:
The Skinner Organ has been disassembled and will be packed into a truck tomorrow morning. Lots of pieces including a 500 pound blower motor that rode a sled down the steeple spiral stair.
We had a productive meeting with some Session and church members to imagine the basement kitchen layout. Just in time as plumbing and electrical began in earnest on Monday. Thanks to those who provided input.
Radiators have been installed and piped.
We do have a problem with some frozen parts in the boiler room and a leaky gas main. Central Hudson is coming tomorrow morning to asses the situation (some of the problem may be theirs) and Frank Connolly is working on the gas line and leaking pieces of the furnace.
There are some minor maintenance items that will need to be addressed in the coming months. Cleaning around the now vacant organ loft, tightening floor boards in the sanctuary before carpet placement, clean organize the hood fan in the basement (this is a hanging liability – a much more expensive hood might be required as we plan to move back into the building), cleaning and polishing the wood work at the front of the church, and the list will keep growing.
Progress is underway.
Peter S
And to continue the progress, our beautiful Skinner Organ has left the building. The Foley Baker team has entirely disassembled, packed up and put everything on a huge truck and has taken every piece to their location for the full restoration. These photos were taken on the Friday morning before the loading of the truck began. It was bitter cold that day (13 degrees that felt like 10 or lower – I attached also a screenshot of the wether report), I sure don’t envy the workers.