Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-01
STORY OF THE RENOVATION.

Showing How the Work Was Carried Out
Written by Charles NJ. Curtis, the Treas
urer Of the Fund.
Early in the year 1898 a committee
Of the vestry of Trinity parish, con-
sisting of the wardens, Horace Burr,
NJ. D., and Charles NJ. Curtis, ESQ.,,
Hon. Thomas f. Bayard, John s. Grohe
and Edward 7. Candy was appointed
to report upon the needed repairs to
the church and to raise the funds for
the purpose of defraying the cost
thereof. preliminary survey Of the
building was made by Thomas Sam
worth, who reported in writing on May
I'd, 1898, giving an estimate of the
cost OF the necessary repairs.
In general it was found that as to
the exterior new roof was needed, the
wooden belfry was much deteriorated,
and as to the interior the plaster of
the ceiling was broken in several
places, the side walls discolored and
unsightly, the woodwork and support
frame of the doors in the south porch
were much decayed and worm eaten.
The estimate Of the cost of this work,
including repainting of the exterior and
interior woodwork and Turing and
plastering side walls and ceiling was
about $1,000.
With this as a basis the committee
sent out q printed appeal for contribu-
tions for the work. The first response
to it was subscription from the Rt.
Rev. Leighton Coleman, the bishop
of the diocese.
In June the committee consulted an
architect with experience in such work,
William II. Mersereau of New York,
and obtained from him on October
9th, full detailed report Of his ex-
animation of the building and his
recommendations.
The first care Of the committee was
for the structural preservation of the
building.
1t was settled that the sidewalks
should not be furred and replastered,
but the proper treatment of them tc
avoid dampness and discoloration and
still to preserve the characteristic I'M,
eveness of surface, was a serious prob
lem to solve. After thorough investi
cation and the making of some expert
ments, it was decided to paint them.
OUTSIDE STAIRCASE REPLACED.
1t was also decided TO replace the out
side staircase to the gallery and no
move the interior ones; the latte
being modern innovation.
But the proper design of the stair
was another problem. Tho memory o
the oldest inhabitants did not recall tn
details of construction, and several per
sons who remembered them as scene
of youthful pranks during the tim
when the church was unused 70
worship, could not describe them wit
sufficient detail. Fortunately an oil
painting was found showing a porto
of the stairs from which the architec
was able to duplicate the origina
structure.
Detailed plans and specification
were prepared by the architect and bio
mington and from New York, and o
December 9TH, 1898, the bids wei
opened. The lowest bid was that c
Messrs. Ferguson IL Brown of Brool
Ign, N. Y, for 81, 400, which include
all labor and materials, and on Decen
Der 18th, 1898, the contract with thel
was signed, the committee having bet
authorized by the vestry to do so. Soc
after, work was begun and prosecute
with diligence and careful attention
details.
Throughout all the work the ruliI
principle was renovation-replaciI
unsound with sound material-and e
act reproduction in minute detail
every part necessarily removed, al
the use OF the best material availabl
In the roof riven cypress shingles we
used, laid eight inches to the wealth
and copper Hastings used in the vale
and comb. Owing to the spreading
the side walls the roof was much o
of shape and TO make straight con
it was necessary to furr up the raftt
as much as 10 inches in some plact
The hand hewn, rugged oak timbers
the truss of the roof are very intereI
ing in appearance and are perfect
sound.
THE BELFRY REBUILT.
The belfry was entirely rebuilt
was found that the woodwork was
entirely unsound and decayed as
make it undesirable to patch or repi
it, and the old wood work was remov
and an exact duplicate of the bell
erected. Tho only difference betwe
the old and new is that the old "
shineled with wooden shingles and
new with copper shingles, the form
being very undesirable owing TO
curvature of the roof of tho belt
The weather vane is the original {
except the tail. which had aim
rotted off, An exact duplicate Of
was put up.
Tho storm doors in the tower
frances on ground floor were placed