Artisans from Southgate Steeplejacks, Inc., of Montpelier,
dismantled the scaffolding surrounding the United Church of Ludlow, marking
the completion of the first phase of the church’s five-year restoration
program.
The roofing project involved the repair and, where necessary, replacement of slate, installation of lead-coated copper flashing, rebuilding a roof section and the column supports for the bell tower, and renovation of the chimney.
According to Ralph Pace, chair of the church’s restoration committee, the work done by Southgate far exceeded expectations. “The Southgate people were thorough and careful,” he said. “They solved some problems in the building that have plagued us for a long time.” He noted that the Southgate artisans found and repaired four roof leaks that may have dated back to the original construction.
Additionally, while removing slate from the roof, Marcel LaRocque, the project supervisor for Southgate, discovered that the original roof on the building was wood shingles, not slate as had always been supposed.
Brian Drummond of Black River Masonry rebuilt the chimney to improve its ability to withstand Vermont’s severe weather.
Funding for this project was, in part, provided with grants from the Windham Foundation and the Johanna Favrot Foundation of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The bulk of the funding, however, was through fund raising efforts of church members and friends of the church.