The Stevensville United Methodist Church is due for some repairs, according to church member Paul Ludington who is working hard to raise funds for the project. The building, originally constructed in 1885, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, America’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation.
The congregation raised funds to match a $5,000 grant and obtained an architectural assessment of the building which found “a pressing need to remove and replace the extant roof which includes repair of water damaged exterior and interior materials at the Fellowship Hall entrance.” It also includes exterior repairs, painting, cleaning of roof drains and landscaping repair. In all, the whole project is estimated to cost over $300,000.
Ludington said that using something like asphalt shingles would greatly reduce the cost.
“But then you would lose the historical character of the building,” said Ludington. “We think these shingles were installed in the 1928 remodel,” he said, referring to the work done on the building when the Methodist churches, both North and South, acquired it.
The building was constructed in 1885 and served as the town’s grade school. According to the architectural report, it was built as a two-story, three-room, cross-shaped building in the Italianate style that was popular in the country from the 1840s through the mid-1880s. “It featured a low pitched roof decorated with paired carved brackets, tall corniced windows, two entrances with single-story porches and a lantern-style ventilator atop the roof.”
Significant changes to the building occurred during the growth of enrollment of the school in 1906, with a two-story room addition to the north. As the school outlived its usefulness, a new school was built to the east (and since demolished), and the old school building was purchased by the Stevensville Woman’s Club. Ludington said that the club had trouble keeping up with the maintenance for such a big building and it ended up being empty for a few years. He said the Methodist church was located where Jesus Community Church is now.
“So they traded properties,” said Ludington. “Actually, I think they sold it for a $1.” He said they held potlucks on the lawn to fund a major remodel.
According to the report, the transition from school to church was most significant architecturally. It included additions of a new façade, “which transformed the building and its complex additions into a unified whole and a monumental portico with graceful Tuscan columns replaced the original porch entry, a large domed cupola replaced the ventilator, and windows were embellished with art glass.”
The windows “embellished with art glass” are still intact and each bears the name of the person or persons who footed the cost of the window, about $28 at the time, including such notables as Amos Buck, William Caple, and Mrs. Sharp.
Standing on the lawn in front of the above described façade, Ludington pointed to the weather vane atop the domed cupola. The wind’s direction is indicated by what looks like a large metal feather at the top
“It’s a quill,” said Ludington, “in honor of the building’s origin as a school.”
Ludington said that doing the needed repairs while preserving the building’s historic character will not be a simple project.
“We think these shingles were installed in 1928,” said Ludington. “You can’t find shingles like this anymore, not this far west anyway, maybe back in Maine or Vermont.” As a result, he said, they settled on using a composite shingle made from recycled material.
“But it’s all very expensive,” said Ludington. “So, we are starting a capital campaign. We are looking for grants and we want to get as much local support as we can.”
Ludington is a member of the church’s Board of Trustees and anyone interested can call him at 214-9922.