Preservation Projects for the 1769 Meetinghouse at First Parish in East Derry, New Hampshire

Historic Assessment (multi-year master plan) commissioned (CPW Architects).
Paint applied to deteriorating exterior.
Submitted $29,600 LCHIP grant request for FPC Rehab Phase 1a: Urgent Repairs (failed).

Timber Frame & Roof Structural Analysis.
Misc. fire, electrical, & misc. critical repairs.
Submitted $12,000 LCHIP application for Urgent Stabilization of the FPC Meetinghouse (failed).

Temporary reinforcement of failing Tower.
Replacement of substandard iron rod posts in the Music Room & Library.
Evaluation of rear Sanctuary hanging balcony structure (satisfactory).

Building analysis, preservation planning, and fundraising.
Submitted $100,000 LCHIP application for FPC Meetinghouse Foundation Rehab (failed).

Failing steeple lowered to the ground (later disassembled and transported to storage).
Submitted $125,000 LCHIP grant application for FPC Meetinghouse Tower Rehabilitation 2015 2015 n (won).

Building lift prep: chimneys removed & roof patched, asbestos abated (lower-level flooring & ductwork), oil furnace and tank removed, windows and artifacts protected.

The building lifted, and a new Foundation was poured (crawlspace height).

Oak sill beams and other timber frame repairs throughout.

The Connector foundation and shell are completed.

Submitted $59,000 LCHIP grant application for FPC Meetinghouse Roof System Rehab (won, but deferred, then returned due to changing priorities).

Tower Base Rehab: 1990s steel beams etc., removed; timber frame significantly reconstructed, including new 60’ corner posts.; new historic siding installed; existing lead paint removed and exterior painted.

Submitted $30,000 LCHIP grant application for FPC Meetinghouse Steeple Rehabilitation to augment 2015 Tower grant (won).

Steeple Rehab: elements dismantled & studied; timber frame structure rebuilt and custom trim prepared (offsite).

Submitted $4,400 Metheun Festival of Trees grant application for East Derry Meetinghouse Lantern Capitals Rehabilitation Project (won).

Steeple Rehab: steeple reassembled onsite and trim and siding installed and painted; significant new copper roofing and materials protection installed; completed Steeple lifted and installed on tower base; weathervane repaired and regilded; lightning protection system installed.

Connector exterior siding, windows, and doors installed & painted.

Submitted $4,900 Metheun Festival of Trees grant application for East Derry Meetinghouse Clock Functions Restoration Project (won).

Connector Interior completed: electrical, lighting, fire systems, sheetrock, paint, & flooring. Cement paver walkway installed at exterior Connector electrical panels.

Elevator installed and certified.

Meetinghouse Exterior: shutters removed and stored; trim repaired; building stripped & painted.

Planning, project quotes, and fundraising for the Sanctuary rehab.

Removed plaster ceiling from lower-level rooms and stripped some interior walls to facilitate structural analysis.

Removed, partially disassembled Sanctuary pews; stored with cushions in lowerlevel.

Submitted $85,000 LCHIP grant application for E. Derry Auditorium Ceiling Rehabilitation (failed).

Sanctuary Rehab: new entrance from the Connector; subfloor installed to encapsulate asbestos tiles; lead paint stripped and historic tin ceiling repainted.

Structural engineering analysis of the 1845 Sanctuary floor/lower-level ceiling found it to be significantly under current code spec; town requires updating.

Old Noyes Building electrical panel transferred to new panel in the Meetinghouse.

Tower Clock electrified and bell striking mechanism rebuilt.

Pipe organ blower relocated to room fabricated in the crawlspace; ductwork connecting blower with pipe room installed.

Sanctuary Rehab: Connector passageway and door finished; historic walls replastered and painted; finished flooring installed (LVP and carpet); electrical, lighting, and data systems revamped; advnced multimedia and streaming system installed; 1902 wall sconces refurbed and UL tested; 1845 chandelier professionally cleaned and inspected; pew cushions laundered and treated for fire retardancy; pews repaired and woodwork refinished throughout.

Sanctuary floor reinforced to meet code with steel I-beams, glulams, lumber, new intermediate posts, and heavy-duty brackets.

Pipe Organ: pipes reinstalled in Tower Pipe Room; electrical system updated; console/keyboard refurbed; system tuned (FB post).

Narthex Rehab: lower-level lift shaft removed; upper-level lift shaft converted to multimedia & networking utility closet.

East Gable Wall Rehab: rotted 15’ horizontal girt beam replaced; window above refurbished; associated structure repaired; temporary siding installed and painted. (Awaits rehab and return of the overhanging roof.)

Sanctuary Rehab: interior work completed and use by the church resumed in March (after nine years). Certificate of Occupancy granted by Derry Building Inspectors and Assembly Permit by the Fire Department.

Narthex Rehab completed, cosmetic on level 2 and complete on level 1: electrical, data, lighting, fire, plaster, paint, and flooring.

More:

• Facebook: First Use of the Restored Sanctuary

• Union Leader: History on the hill: Historic Derry church sanctuary repairs part of years-long renovation

• FB: Sanctuary Preview Photos

New Historic Preservation Plan commissioned from CPW Architects. Will address Windows Rehab and Protection, Lower-Level Rehab (MacGregor Hall another rooms), Roof System Rehab, and various smaller projects.