PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) – Bill Rogan had just replaced his truck’s windshield, damaged in a recent hail storm, when bad weather struck again – this time sending scaffolding and debris onto his vehicle as he sat inside.
The sudden storm on Friday destroyed a new spire being installed on the historic North Church and sent scaffolding tumbling more than 100 feet onto Market Square below, where Rogan was parked.
“I didn’t see it coming down,” he told the Portsmouth Herald. “I only knew it when glass from my windshield started flying all over my truck.”
Rogan, of Stratham, jumped out the passenger side door and received only minor cuts and scrapes in the accident.
“I just got a brand new windshield because of the hail storm in Exeter,” Rogan said. “(My insurance company) is not going to believe this one.”
The lower portion of the church steeple, which remains intact, is undergoing renovations. The church dates back to 1855. The old spire was taken down two weeks ago, and the storm knocked down new timbers that had recently been put in place, according to Jameson French, chairman of the Market Square Steeple Fund Advisory Committee.
French said he was “cautiously optimistic” the losses would be covered by insurance.
Scaffolding crews on Saturday removed the debris and worked to assemble new scaffolding to replace what fell.
The city’s chief building inspector Richard Hopley said that scaffolding will be inspected before the Pleasant Street portion of Market Square will be reopened to traffic.
Hopley also said the damage to the North Church was minimal, with minor damage to the roof and no damage to the church sanctuary. The bell tower and clock also were not damaged, he said.
Officials do not know if it was wind, lightning or a combination of both that caused the spire to fall.
Resident Tom Brown said the storm was really intense.
“It was like hurricane winds for like a minute or two. Before that, it was lighting. It sounded like it was hitting close to the ground,” he told Foster’s Daily Democrat.
Billy Gunn was one of the many people at a nearby cafe who saw the debris tumble from the sky.
“The scaffolding and all just came down – wham! – in one shot,” Gunn said.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
