1794-1998
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During the annual congregational meeting of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Amityville, in November, 1995, approval was given for a committee to study the future of the Sunday school Chapel. This building had not been used for many years and the time had come to either restore it or demolish it. Harold (Butch) Boyer volunteered to be chairman of this committee and those offering to serve with him were; Jean Barto, Ken Biles, Nancy Casner, Arlene Hafer, Louise Selwyn, Gary Steppler, and Ruth Wiltraut. Six months later, after many meetings and much research, the committee recommended to the congregation that the chapel be restored rather then destroy it. At that time the historical value of the chapel, along with an estimated cost for restoration given as approximately $100,000., was presented. The plan was to restore the chapel in three phases, being done as funds were available. No money was to be taken out of the church treasury. Length of time for completion of the restoration was to be five years. With no dissenting vote the project was approved to go forward! At this time the committee had one member resign from the committee while at the same time gained four member---Ed Selwyn Jr., Brian Riker, and Helen and Charles Carey. In June the committee sent a letter to the congregation soliciting funds for our project. The local newspapers were used for publicizing the history of the chapel as well as for seeking contributions. At the peach festival in August a raffle ticket was sold, with all items being donated by the committee members and members of the community. A profit of almost $1000.00 was realized. The committee was very pleased to have the first restorative area completed in August. A new roof was on the chapel at a cost of $8800.00. The steeple of the chapel was restored at this time also. After many weeks of planning, an auction was held on the chapel grounds on a beautiful sunny Saturday in October. The donations for this activity were overwhelming, with many people helping to lighten the work load, attendance was good, and a profit of approximately $6000.00 was received. At the congregational meeting in November 1996, the committee offered the sale of the stained glass windows as memorials at a cost of $1500.00 per window. In a very short time the eighteen windows had been purchased. Miniature replicas of the chapel were purchased and are being sold at a cost of $20.00 as a fund raising activity. It was at this time the consistory decided our congregation was growing at such a rapid rate, making the need for more Sunday School classrooms imminent and therefore began making plans for a capital funds campaign, to pay for the restoration of the chapel and for the replacement of the organ in the church sanctuary. This campaign was started in January 1997. The committee began their work parties during the last week of January, meeting three times weekly. On Sunday Feb. 9, 1997 all the inside wall were taken down to the bare bricks. No one on the committee could possibly envision what was facing us when we volunteered to serve on the project, nor what the chapel would become!! This group was not a "sit at the table and talk" committee. Many, many, many long hours of tedious work were done by this group, removing everything down to the bare walls and starting over. The dust and dirt enveloped everything and everyone! Breathing was most difficult at times! Because of days--weeks--months of stripping paint from all the woodwork we referred to ourselves as the "strippers". In order to assure ourselves that we were proceeding properly with the restoration , an historical architect reviewed our plans, doing so with approval. One item that was stressed at the time was not to carpet the floor of the chapel. The many areas needing work-- new electric system, insulation, drywall, storm windows, doors, cement basement for new heat and air conditioning system, lighting fixtures, steel beam in basement for strengthening floor of uper level, bathroom, carpet for storage area and also lower level, dividing the lower level into rooms, sound system, painting, pointing, chairs and altar furnishings, ramp built as new front entranceway, landscaping, fumigation, cleaning and repairing the roller-style stage curtain, building stepson front of the stage, sewer hook-up,--required innumerable hours of hard work by the committee and the dedicated volunteers who helped make this project possible!! Without the volunteerism the expenses for completion would have been very much increased. Caring people of the community, not only members of the congregation, gave many, many, hours of time and materials, for which we are indebted. Several businessmen in the area were hired to do some of the work as we neared completion. All gave their services at a reduced price, which was greatly appreciated. To all who helped us in any way-- THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! |
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Dedicated June 6, 1998