Back To Its Original Splendor
Constitution-Tribune, Tuesday, June 16, 2009

CAPTION: Shielding their eyes from the sun, a large crowd of St. Columban Church members and community members watch as the copper clad, 2,900-pound steeple is carefully placed on the church’s bell tower Friday. The placement of the church’s refurbished cross spire followed, returning the church back to its original design.

C-T Photo / Laura Schuler

An unusual sight that likely won’t be seen again in a lifetime happened Friday at noon with the placement of a copper clad steeple and cross spire on the St. Columban’s Catholic Church on Trenton Road in Chillicothe. A large crowd of parishioners and community members gathered for the two-hour process, which was made possible through generous donations from two local families (who wished to remain anonymous) and a capital improvement project within the parish.

According to Father Tom Hermes, pastor at St. Columban’s, the process of raising the entire $197,000 needed for the project has taken about six years and involved $50,000 gifts from two families, a “Sow the Seed” capital improvement campaign and other smaller donations. “This is a big day,” said Hermes as he watched the 25-foot steeple being removed from the trailer by a large crane Friday morning.

The church has been without a steeple since it was taken down in the early 1930s. According to the church’s website, the original steeple on top of the bell tower was taken down because it received a damaging blow by lightning and had to be repaired. In 1937, lightning struck again, and the steeple was subsequently removed.

Bob Archer, a life-long member of the church, was among the crowd of people who watched the steeple raising Friday. While watching the work, Archer recalled that he was among those who watched as the original steeple was taken down about 70 years ago. In fact, Archer said, his brother, the late Lawrence Patrick Archer, helped with the work.

The original steeple, which was made of wood and covered with wood shingles, was about the same size as the copper steeple. After its removal, Hermes said the wooden cross was placed back on the bell tower, where it remained until about a month ago. That’s when workers from Hausman Metal Works and Roofing, of St. Joseph, Mo., arrived to do some prep work to the bell tower to ready it for it’s new copper steeple. Hermes said the workers took the cross back with them and covered it with copper to match the steeple.

On Friday, the steeple arrived from St. Joseph on the back of a trailer at about 10 a.m. and almost immediately, a team of workers began cutting it away from its welded fastenings. Then, after much prep work, the steeple was carefully lifted from the trailer and placed on the ground for a prayer and blessing led by Hermes who, along with two other priests who have pastored at the church over the years, sprinkled holy water on the steeple. (Other pastors visiting for the steeple raising were Father Allen Stetz and Father Reginald Sanders). Then, Hermes invited the entire crowd to touch the steeple and get their photos taken near it.

Soon afterward, a huge crane lifted the steeple high in the air and carefully placed it on top of the bell tower where workers fastened it on. The attachment of the cross spire proved to be the grand finale and was completed just as the church bells rang for "The Angelus," - a reminder for parishioners to pray. "The bells sound just beautiful," Archer said, smiling as the bells rang out.

According to Scott Hausman, who marks the third generation of Hausmans heading up the company, his family and company employees have fabricated and installed many steeples and spires over the years since the company was founded in 1960. Hausman explained that the company has done many projects at Conception Abby and for the Benedictine Sisters in northwest Missouri. However, he noted that there is not a lot of demand for copper in recent years because of the cost of the material. "So the guys working on this really think this is a treat," Hausman said, watching the work.

He predicted that the new steeple will last about 100 years - and noted that the 151 year-old church is an appropriate place for such an investment, "Since (the church) is in the forever business," Hausman said. Fabricating the 2,900 pound steeple, Hausman said, took about six weeks. Prior to that, the design and engineering process took between three and four weeks.

Hermes said the steeple is grounded in two places, to prevent lightening strikes from damaging the steeple. He also noted that the bell tower is equipped with four lights which shine on the steeple at night. The six years of fundraising, planning and preparation, Hermes said, was worth it. "I think that since the steeple was put on Friday, many people have commented on its beauty - both parishioners and non-parishioners," Hermes said. He added, "And I think those who were there when the steeple taken off appreciate it being returned to the original design of the church."

Hausman said he was pleased that the work went smoothly Friday and said he was especially thankful for the ideal weather conditions after several days of wet, rainy weather. "Father Tom assured us a good weather day, so he came through on his end of the deal," Hausman said, smiling.

CAPTION: Six years of fundraising, planning and preparation culminated Friday at noon after the copper clad steeple and the St. Columban Church's original cross spire were installed on the structure's bell tower exactly at noon. During the process of raising the steeple and cross spire, Father Tom Hermes led a prayer and blessed the steeple and the crowd was invited to sign their names to the base of the cross spire and have their pictures taken next to the 2,900-pound steeple.

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Here is an image of a painting of the church
as it appeared with the steeple in 1896.

Visit our HISTORY page for more information.

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Click photos for closer view. Photos courtesy of Mary Garr.

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A Historic Morning
Constitution-Tribune, Friday, June 12, 2009

CAPTION: Many members of St. Columban’s Catholic Church, as well as interested local citizens, spent about two hours on Trenton Road this (Friday) morning to watch employees from Hausman Metal Works and Roofing, of St. Joseph, Mo., install a 25-foot tall copper clad steeple and spire on the St. Columban Catholic Church. The work began with the arrival of the steeple in town at around 10 a.m. and the steeple and spire was attached to the church by the noon ringing of the bells. The $200,000 project has been in the making for the last several years and was made possible, church officials say, through the generous donations of church members in a capital projects campaign, as well as two $50,000 gifts to the church from the estates of two parish families.

C-T Photo/Laura Schuler

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Lift High the Cross
Constitution-Tribune, Friday, April 17, 2009

The cross atop St. Columban Catholic Church, 1111 Trenton Road, was carefully removed Wednesday in preparation for work to be done on the church steeple. The project involves removing some of the newer brick at the top and adding a tall pointed steeple. The work will result in a design similar to the church’s original appearance. This cross which was removed has been part of the church since its early beginning and will be restored and placed at the top of the new steeple.

C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley