The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-19
Alarming Tendency
to Crack and Settle.
CLINTON ANXIOUS.
Over Handsome New Con
gregational Building

Clinton. March lS.-MemDerS OF the
First Congregational Church are be
coming concerned over the condition of
their handsome new church ediice.
Though still far from completion, the
building is exhibiting an alarming ten
dency to crack and settle, Several
portions Of the structure will have to
be rebuilt completely and the architect
in charge has ordered extensive re-
pairs.
The whole trouble is ascribed to the
fact that a large portion of the mason
ry was laid during the winter at time
Of frost, something contrary to all the
principles Of the builders art. The
knowing ones long ago foretold that
the building would crack. And now
that their predictions are verified, they
are saying II told you So"
But, alarming as the cracks are at
the present time, it is not that which
chiefly concerns members of tho con-
gregation. The question is this. If
the building cracks in cold weather,
what will be it's condition when summer
arrives? If it cracks in February and
March, what will 1t do in July?
1t is not surprising that masonry laid
in November and December should
crack little when warm weather sets
in. Everybody who knows anything
about the mason's trade expects more
or less Of It,
1t is but the working out of natural
laws. The frost and frozen moisture
contained in the brick at the time it
Is laid thawS out. There IS expansion.
Something has to give way and a crack
results. But it Is a thing to be CONF
mented upon when the break takes
place In the midst of winter, before the
approach Of warm weather The few
thaws here have not been pronounced.
The thawing out process could only
have affected the outer layer of brick.
The inner walls have not been affect
ed in the least. When hot weather
comes and the inner walls, too, begin
TO thaw out, what is to be expected ?
1t is but natural inference to expect
that the cracks will increase and grow
in number. That the slight crevices
manifest thus far are but indications
and forerunners OF worse to follow
That is what bothers the church
members and especially the building
committee. The latter consists Of DR.
Edwin l.. Harris, Neil Walker and C
D. Copp. None Of them are inclined
to discuss the cracking of the church
and the way they make haste to dodge
the questions on that point indicates
their perturbation of mind.
The worst crack on the outside il
under one Of the window stills on tho
south side of the transept. A jagged
crevice Two or more feet in length zig
Gags down the wall OF cream colOreC
| pressed brick, disfiSuring the handsome
exterior of the church. That whole por-
| ton OF the wall has been ordered TORI
| down and rebuilt. pow much of the
structure will have to be torn away
cannot be told until the workmen gel
to work. 1t may not be safe to tear g
hole in the wall without first removing
all the bricks above. If that is done
the contractors expense will amount
TO many hundred dollars.
! A worse break than the one described
exists in the interior of the ediftce under
the large window on the north This is
now being repaired. The whole sill has
been thrown out as defective and the
| bricks for several feet down removed
| Several other cracks have been oh.
served at different places in the build.
| ing. The crevice under the north win.
| dow was observed by Architect Henry
La Pointe several weeks ago and i'm
contractor delayed doing so until nov
when the complaints of the building
committee are Joined to those of tht
architect
The contractor blamed for the unsat.
! isfaCtory condition of things is an Atho
man. IT is alleged he took advantage OF
Architect La Pointe's absence in Wor-
| cester to rush the work at seasons
when delay was the proper policy tC
I &c tot II
| by the townspeople. AT a parish meet
| ing of the Congregational church not
long since the building committee was
asked to keep 8 careful lookout foI
more cracks. The cost of the repairing
will amount to many hundred dollars
| If the cracking becomes as general az
| is feared, ii may cost the contractor &
thousand or two.
The Congregational church as il
stands today is the handsomest edifice
| in Clinton, 1t is designed to cost $35, 900
exclusive Of organ, pews and interior
| furnishings. it will be large enough ia
seat comfortably 2000 people The Sun
day school rooms and parlors II the
basement will be most comfortably and
conveniently fitted up. Many beautiful
stained glass windows have been do
mated by members Of the congregation
in memory of deceased friends The
floors and wainscotting are oak The
work Of decorating the interior has NOT
yet begun, with the exception of cen
ter piece which was condemned and a
new one ordered in its place
The square tower which rises in the
center OF the front facade has occas-
toned much discussion. To the great
majority its architectural effect is
pleasing. But others have objected to
the b ded crown set above each of the
four corner pinnacles. These will proc
ably be removed in Difference to the
minority.
The tower has been subjected to an
especially rigid examination to discover
traces of cracking and settling, Nothing
wrong has been found with it so far.