• Scheduled roof work (including soldering copper roofing) was being done around the steeple Saturday morning 6/17/00, workers quit for the day around noontime.
• Around 2:30pm smoke was seen coming out of the steeple and the church fire alarm system sounded. A passer-by called 911, and the Joy of Music staff heard the alarm
• Local fire departments arrived within 2 minutes and contained the fire in about an hour by spraying water on both sides of the quickly spreading flames in the steeple and sanctuary attic areas. This included drenching the attic over the sanctuary The inferno portion of the fire was located in another "attic" just above the organ chamber and below the clock/bell tower steeple. The firefighting strategy used was to try to contain the blaze by approaching from the opposite side of the sanctuary attic-- they broke thru wooden and brick roof walls to get access to the attic space at various points. Thousands of gallons of water were pumped in to push back the flames in this attic space. Various doors in the church were broken down to try to attain alternate access routes to the attic space, but the external punched "holes" were the best.
• The results:
  • The sanctuary incurred extensive water damage (still dripping 48 hours later, the carpets are like wet sponges to walk on, the wood oak floors are starting to buckle and discolor, the smell is quite). The carpets and cushions are all out now. The ceiling (wire mesh plaster lathe) has not fallen (yet). The chandelier was be removed soon for protection.
  • The steeple and front attic areas were severely charred, and some steel structures were weakened/twisted due to the intense heat; the inside of the steeple attic is littered with 2" cubes of charcoal-like fragments; the heat was enough to twist and compromise two sections of steel structure. The 1938 rebuilding with steel kept the steeple from toppling in this fire.
  • The historic pulpit had a tarp put over it and needed some repairs and refinishing.
  • The historic glass case of documents and artifacts was safely removed to another part of the church
  • The 1965 Aeolian Skinner pipe organ suffered severe water damage, and was removed, stored, and extensive pipework & chestwork rebuilt. The console seemed to have suffered very little damage, but still needed refinishing and some mechanisms replacement. The console and great/positiv divisions had tarps put over them minutes before much water began seeping/gushing through, however most chests had water inside them to varying extents. The swell and choir chambers had some water to leak in, however, the 1965 organ installers had the foresight to put a tin-like "flooring" in the attic directly over the pipe chamber area, so not as much water got into these chests, but this metal membrane was pierce intentionally to ensure that no residual fire was below it, thus the water came into the chambers anyway. The high-pressure blower and bellows in the attic/steeple area (10" wind pressure for the Festival Trumpet) were totalled. The Great gemshorn 16'-8' offset unit chest was heavily water damaged. The great and positiv pipework needed extensive repair and replacement due to the tarp placed over it (most smaller pipes are bent, some beyond repair). Note that in all aspects, the best possible actions seem to have been taken to protect the instruments- pipe crushing is the lesser of the evils of severe water damage.
  • The sanctuary needed extensive plastering work, most inner walls, trim, and carved woodwork replaced, and new carpets and seat cushions. About half of the hymnals were saved.
  • The 1997 Steinway B was unharmed and quickly moved by professionals to another part of the church, as was a 3-rank 2-manual harpsichord; both instruments were protected from water by the balcony overhang which had not yet become saturated with water landing on its floor surface
  • The church's choir music libraries were virtually unharmed in the basement, which was flooded, some estimates to 3-4"   There was still 1" of water on the floors, but the filing cabinets and drawers kept the actual scores above the water level. By Tuesday, the humidifers and cleaning crew had the water down to just "puddles" Some music was stored on the floors, and was totalled (including extreme mold and crud).
  • Because the entire building's power was off (including alarm system), a nighttime guard patrolled. The first night, the contractor's supervisor slept there and patrolled to make sure things were okay-- the contractors and workers were amazingly supportive and helpful.
  • The Joy of Music Program and Sunday School rooms were all flooded and were a mess (all the paper & supplies will be tossed due to the acid content of the water from the attic). JOMP was relocated to Wesley Methodist reconstruction was completed. Subsequently they renovated and moved to a refurbished Nursing Home facility, which was perfect for their needs.
  • Most floor(bsmt & ground level & balcony) and attic surfaces were covered with wet rock wool insulation, looking like eroded sand dunes, but grey. The water dripped through each level and picked up acidity from the insulation. pH balance is important for preservation and longevity of paper.
• An early guestimate of November was offered for completion of the sanctuary rebuilding (but likely much longer); the pipe organ will take probably a year to be fully operational.
• Local officials, firefighters, the community, and area churches were absolutely wonderful in their outpouring of help and support.
• Electricity was restored to the back sections of the building a week after the fire; when the power was switched on, all the systems were re energized, somehow the furnace came on and steam spewed out the front eaves of the church where the fire had been. The fire dept. was there almost instantly because it looked as if the roof had re ignited.
• Sanctuary carpets were removed; and the back wings of the church facility had carpets cleaned and walls scrubbed.

  7/21/2000: Restoration work has been contracted with Stephen Russell, assisted by Theodore Gilbert. The organ was removed for storage and repairs during the week of 7/17/2000 by Russell & Co., and church "pipe brigade" volunteers. The chamber structure will now be rebuilt, and, based on sanctuary restoration progress, re-installation will begin throughout 2001. Services are being held in Unity Hall (the general-purpose recreation hall at the opposite end of the facility), with the santuary Steinway B providing accompaniment there.

  Steve Russell (organ restoration/organbuilder) mentioned that our church volunteers' service of several hundred person-hours have saved the church a considerable sum of money. Congratulations and thanks to all the volunteers (partial listing follows): Jesse & Susan Anderson, Jeff Bailey, Roz Bennett, Drew Cummings, Jim Demetry, Catherine Grant, Nancy Ford, Corinne Peterson, Paul & Marjorie Ropp, Tom Schade, Sue Stafford, Kate Tower-Ludwig , Ken Waugh, Jerry Bellows.

Although it is assumed that various insurance will cover 100% of the damages, we believe there will be additional costs incurred that won't be reimburseable. A Phoenix Restoration Fund was established, see details.

E-mail:
Phone: 1+508.757.2708
Fax: 1+508.753.9332
Mail: 90 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608-1173  USA

The Reverend Barbara W. Merritt, Senior Minister

The Reverend Thomas Schade, Associate Minister

Diane Mirick, Religious Education Director

Will Sherwood, AAGO, ChM, Director of Music

Justine Beaudoin, Moderator

Gordon T. Gurney, Jane Beckwith, Jerry BellowsMusic Committee Co-Chairs