The quiet of Sundays is deceptive. Much ground work is going on for the new Fellowship Hall. The building program is written up in two contracts. The first for the preparation of the site, including the building of a substantial retaining wall, as required by the engineers; and the second for the construction of the building itself. The committee finalized the basic floor plan and signed the first contract in the Gragg Construction and Design Center in Newland on March 17. Starting the next day, trees were removed and an access road graded up from the corner of the lower parking lot.
The excavation for relocating the oil tank and checking the drain field discovered a buried old oil tank, fragments of a retaining wall, and a dry field, this last indicating that the old pipes were broken and the system was not functioning properly. By then the topographical condition suggested that the originally planned split level building was less practical than one with a single floor. This is the only feature which will change. The kitchen facilities are being arranged by a women's committee.
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The retaining wall resembling stepped back piled stones, constructed of concrete blocks each weighing 2,200 lbs., runs about 80 feet, well past the southeast corner of the church. It is designed to safe;guard the structural integrity of the church at that vulnerable point and, of course, to secure the foundations for the new building. (A slide show of the construction in progress can be found on our web site, www.CrossnorePresbyterian.org, on the Projects page.)
The letter of commitment for the loan from First Citizens Bank was signed by session members on April 6. Three of its members and Bob Taylor as treasurer, represent the church corporation as our legal entity.
After much time and effort our prayers are being answered. Our vision is taking shape, and our church is moving forward. The progress is exhilarating. Everyone should take a look. During the week it is better to drive into the church property through the lower parking lot and up from there.
~Bill Bagby, Chair
New Building Committee
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