September 20th Update
On Tues, Sept 21, 2010 the Building Committee will be presenting to the District Building Committee our proposals of the master plan with anticipation of their approval. This is a procedure that is required in the church discipline.
Throughout the month of August, September and October our architect Ralph Alster has been moving forward with the development of our master plan into blue prints for approval of our future church improvements. There are slow and delicate steps that have to be taken to accomplish this. The following are some of the steps that have been in progress.
1. The purchase of blueprints from the Pa Department of Labor and Industry for the educational wing of our church that was built in 1955 has been completed. These have proved very helpful in moving ahead with the understanding of the structural, electrical, heating, and plumbing in this area.
2. A very in-depth study and research has been going on with Ralph’s direction in the developing the structural understanding of the original part of the church that was built in 1887 and the old parsonage that was built in 1905. He is being assisted by structural engineer consultant Chuck Meier of Geo Tech Engineering, Inc of Dubois, Pa. Dale Fiscus is assisting in making this happen at our church. Dale is preparing and making opening throughout the church so the engineers can properly see and diagnose what is going on behind plaster, above ceilings, inside fabricated columns, in crawl spaces, attic access and in any way we can properly evaluate the present condition of our church and determine what changes can be adapted to the present structure.
3. Ralph has also invited a mechanical engineer to assist him in evaluating the condition and operation of our boiler system which supplies the heat for our church. The present heating system was put in 1985. This gentleman also is evaluating the electrical plant which was put in 1955 in the educational wing. The electrical room, as it is referred to, supplies all the other sub panels throughout the church. The original church built in 1887 had the electrical wires install in the first quarter of the 1900’s and still have the original knob and tube installation. I apologize but I do not have this gentleman’s name.
