Steeple Assessment Grant awarded to Chesterville meeting house

CHESTERVILLE — Structural work to stabilize the steeple of the 167-year-old Chesterville Center Meeting House may soon be underway, due to assistance from the Maine Community Foundation.

The nonprofit foundation provides funding and incentives for community-building programs throughout the state, with the aim of ensuring a strong future for all Maine residents.

In this case, a Steeple Assessment Grant awarded to the nonprofit Chesterville Center Union Meeting House has enabled the organization to obtain an expert analysis of the structures supporting the antique steeple and its heavy cast metal bell. The results of the analysis can be used to apply for a steeple grant, for 50 percent funding of any recommended repairs.

If awarded, the meeting house organization will have to find matching funds elsewhere.

“It’s possible that we will have to raise a few thousand dollars from other sources if we do receive an MCF Steeple grant,” said Carolyn Drugge, board president, “but that’s just part of the process of keeping this worthy building sound and usable for future generations, which is what we are all about.”

Since 1851, when it was erected to replace a previous meeting house that residents moved to the other end of town, the Chesterville Center Union Meeting House has served as a gathering place for both religious and civic purposes. Its resonant bell was rung throughout the town’s history to signal warnings, celebrations, tragedies and triumph, in the days before mass media.

The building is currently serving as a nonprofit community center hosting a range of events. It is maintained by a volunteer board of directors as well as community volunteers.

The next event scheduled will be the Friday, April 20, performance by Michael Cooper, returning with his tribute to his father, the late Everett Cooper, large animal veterinarian.

Other events this season will include a May 19 concert by the David Mallet Band, a June 17 concert by the locally popular Barry Wood, a July 23 invasive plants workshop and an Aug. 18 concert by national award-winning singer-songwriter Ruth Hill.

For details, visit www.chestervillemeetinghouse.org or call 207-778-3767.