Good-bye Milton Steeple

….or why did the steeple cross the road?

The Milton Christian Church has to be torn down as the foundation is weak. The building foundation that is, not the organization. The footings have already been started on the new building. So how do you tear down a church? From the top down, as you shall see, starting with the steeple. The congregation, very much on the ball, invited the neighbours in to watch and sold hot dogs, raffle tickets, and chances to guess the weight of the steeple. I commented to a fellow “Aren’t you just tempting fate, inviting people in to watch?” to which he replied in his best south shore drawl “Oh, you don’t need to invite them”. Here is the event in photos; the steeple came down about 3 hours after the first hot dog was sold:

The crane is set up and ready to go.

The crane is set up and ready to go.

 

I went over where the church group had set up across from the Post Office and I got my hot dog and guessed the weight at 1237 lbs. The crowd. Best cookies ever, ladies.

The church group had set up across from the Post Office and I got my hot dog and guessed the weight at 1237 lbs. The crowd came and went. Best cookies ever, ladies.

 

I got a parting shot.

I got a parting shot.

 

And waited.

And crossed the river to watch. And wait.

 

....and waited.

….and wait.

 

This poor fellow went through all the songs in his song book while he was waiting. He ahs a song prepared for the dismantling moment but I think his fingers were to raw to play by then.

This poor fellow went through all the songs in his song book while he was waiting. He had a song prepared for the dismantling moment but I think his fingers were to raw to play by then.

 

Finally a shift in the steeple.

Finally a shift in the steeple.

 

and it was off.

and it was off.

 

Is a crane supposed to bend like that?

Is a crane supposed to bend like that?

 

Or like that? What was that cracking sound?

Or like that? What was that cracking sound?

 

The widespread shout of "Oh My God" as we heard a second crack was not a prayer but an exclamation of shock (and dismay for many).

The widespread shout of “Oh My God” as we heard a second crack was not a prayer but an exclamation of shock (and dismay for many).

 

Well, that's one way to bring down a steeple.

Well, that’s one way to bring down a steeple.

 

It was indeed a miracle that no one was injured. But what to do with the thing?

It was indeed a miracle that no one was injured. But what to do with the thing?

 

...you got your dead steeple in the middle of the road... and it's stinkin' to high heaven....

…you got your dead steeple in the middle of the road… and it’s stinkin’ to high heaven….

 

This morning there is nothing left but a stump where the steeple used to be.

This morning there is nothing left but a stump where the steeple used to be.

 

We will miss you, Milton steeple.

We will miss you, Milton steeple.

 

Next to go, Milton bridge.

Next to go, Milton bridge. Wonder what that weighs.

 

Video by Joel Baltzer

And what was the weight of the steeple? The answer is “too heavy”. By the way, I would not be making light of this had anyone been injured – there is much discussion today about the crash and of the lack of safety precautions taken and whether or not God was in on it. The good news is that they were not planning to re-use the steeple on the new church. My heart goes out to the congregation who had planned on having a fun event, not a spectacle.

© Judy Parsons 2015. (Except video – Joel Baltzer on YouTube)

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