2024-2026 Readfield Union Meeting House clock tower, belfry and spire restoration
The clock tower
The gentle tick tock of the 1930 E. Howard Clock
Spire Construction
The Spire “crab”. This will be the base of the structure that attaches the spire structure to the belfry posts.
The 8 Spire rafters
After 110 years, the historic Union Meeting House
has its spire back.
Thank you to all of our supporters and wonderful artisans who made this all possible.
A very special thank you to the Nation Park Service for helping us restore this national treasure to its original.
For more info on the NPS “Save Americas Treasures Grant” program, check out the link below.
Save America's Treasures Grants - Historic Preservation Fund (U.S. National Park Service)
Lots of framing done.
The amazing crew of Preservation Timber Framing.
Check them out Here: Preservation Timber Framing – Traditional repair of timber-framed barns, homes, churches and steeples
Here is a recent picture from Preservation Timber Framing showing 1/2 of the “ spire crab” being assembled in the shop over the winter.
This piece is the connection between the Belfry roof and the “New” spire.
Keep an eye out for more updates to this exciting step.
Peter Slattery of Preservation Timber Framing works on cutting and shaping the 30+ foot central post of the 8 sided spire.
Completed spire parts ready for transport to the site and put together.
Here is the earliest photo of the Union Meeting House with its steeple in place. The balustrades and urns decorate the edge of the roof lines. Atop the spire is a weathervane.
Here is the architectural drawing of the restoration work with the “new” replicated 30’ spire. All new balustrades, urns and weathervane will replicate the original.
It has been 109 years since the spire was on the building.
Here you can see workers hoisting the 1930 restored clock back into the tower before the roof and walls are sheathed.
(Video from Centralmaine.com)