BUCKFIELD — Historians and restoration specialists told town officials after a recent tour that the 91-foot steeple on the Old Church on the Hill could be repaired for $25,000.
The future of the Old Church on the Hill in Buckfield is in question as the town discusses the cost of upkeep for the building. Leaders recently learned a steeple repair could cost $600,000 less than anticipated. Submitted photo
That estimate is considerably less than the $635,000 estimate the town received a few years ago for a historical restoration of the facility.
Resident Judy Berg, who helped arrange the tour by the historical restoration experts, told the Select Board at Tuesday’s meeting about the group’s findings.
The experts who went up into the steeple to check its condition included Richard Irons, owner of Richard Irons Restoration Masons in Buckfield; Les Fossel, owner of Restoration Resources in Alna; Tom Johnson, director of the Victorian Mansion in Portland; and Jonathan Hall, a staff member at Yarmouth-based Maine Preservation.
Irons is familiar with the town’s heritage because he lives in and is restoring the Abijah Buck House, the 1791 home of Buckfield’s first settler.
The Old Church on the Hill, which was originally known as the Union Church and sometimes Union Chapel, was built as a Universalist church between 1831 and 1832. Located at 77 High St., it was built with the cooperation of other denominations, which shared services.
The town seal of Buckfield prominently features the Old Church on the Hill, which was originally known as the Union Church. The town is exploring the cost of repairing the steeple on the church, built in 1832.
Featured prominently on the town’s seal, the building was included on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
According to the application, the church “is an outstandingly handsome and well-proportioned example of a late Federal meetinghouse with transitional Gothic features. The 91-foot spire is regarded as a model of proportion and grace.”
The town took ownership of the building around 1900. Since then, the structure has been used for town meetings and even hosted basketball games in the 1950s. In recent years, the building has hosted concerts, weddings and public gatherings.
The structure has seen little use since the pandemic, with the town paying for electricity and insurance.
Berg said the roof looks like it is in excellent condition, which was good news for the board. While mostly sound, some roof flashing may need to be replaced and there is likely a few tiny holes causing leaks, Town Manager Cameron Hinkley noted.
The restoration experts told Hinkley that they were optimistic that grants are available to cover the costs for the steeple project.
The tour was prompted by Select Board member Sandra Fickett, who in January urged the board and townspeople to determine the future of the church and whether it was worth saving.
Town officials asked that Old Church on the Hill Committee members Cory Nicholson and Everett Tilton get together to figure out the town’s next step.
In other business, Heather Henley was appointed to the Beautification, Parks and Conservation Committee for three years.
Select Board Chairman Robert Hand was named local health officer, replacing Floyd “Chip” Richardson, who recently resigned.
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