Sunday, March 21, 2010

Plumb what? Think adjective — plumb, as in level, straight, not crooked nor leaning. This is a recent condition for the structure pictured above. In the spring of 2008, an ill westerly wind buffeted Selma, Arkansas, and seemed to concentrate its fury on the 136-year-old Selma Methodist Church. When the winds subsided, there was a decided easterly list to the sanctuary.

On the inside the news got worse. The west wall had separated from the floor. Over the next few weeks, gravity — having no respect for houses of worship — exacerbated the gap. If something wasn’t done, the old church would unceremoniously bite the Arkansas dust.

Turns out, Brian Driscoll of the Arkansas Historical Preservation Society took a special interest in the church and its rapidly deteriorating condition, according to Dorris Watson of Selma, who leads the charge for the church’s restoration group, the Selma Methodist Church Preservation Society. As a result of Brian’s interest, the group was organized, learned of grant sources to address the church’s pressing issues, and sprang dutifully into action.  (The church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.)

Selma Methodist Church, March 7, 2009.   Like the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Selma Methodist Church had its very own flying buttresses. Local donations, bolstered by grants from the Methodist Church and the Arkansas Historical Preservation program, provided funds to stabilize the church until more detailed plans were made and more funds were raised. Architect Gary Clements of Clements and Associates visited the site, took the project under the professional wings of his firm, and conjured up the successful stabilization strategy.

As you can see from the March 7 photo, the church building was practically sitting on the ground. In a few places it stood barely six inches from mother earth. Over the years the building had settled, necessitating a complete restructuring of the foundation.

There was only one problem. The church was in the way of the foundation. The obvious answer was to move the church. In this case, straight up.

The church was lifted, lock stock and barrel, eight feet above the southeast Arkansas soil upon which it sat. Crews did necessary foundation repairs and returned the church to like-new condition, at least from a foundation viewpoint. Sadly, during the time the church was tall enough to have a squad of the NBA’s finest walk under it without ducking, there were no known pictures shot.

The Selma Methodist Church Preservation Society is now in the process of raising the next round of funds, which will be used to leverage additional grants. Plans are to restore the church to 1874 style, with, of course, a few instances of deference to contemporary conveniences. Speaking of which, I do have one suggestion. Please run the power lines underground so that, as future generations of photographers record the pristine restoration, the comment “$#@*$%!@!** wires” will not be heard (again) on this hallowed ground.

 
N O T E S:  
Nikon D 300, ISO 200, Tripod mounted, both shots, one in March 2009 and one in March 2010, AF-S VR Nikkor 18-200 f3.5-5.6 ED, D; 2009 - 1/400 @ f10; 2008 – 1/800 @ f4.8; post processed with Photoshop CS4 Extended, Photomatix HDR and Genuine Fractals Print Pro, with un-requested keyboard assistance from a small gray cat.
 

THERE’S MORE!!! Just up the road was a “Look See” tree, which is historically protected. Also some bizarre discoveries in the boondocks close by. Plus a link to our weekly high-resolution gallery of this week’s shots published and unpublished. See it all on our blog, Weekly Grist for the Eyes and Mind. See a cool old barn in winter mode, nearly impossible to see in spring and summer mode, plus some spring posies. Click here to go there.

Click the jump wings to see the previous Photo of the Week.

Click the camera for an index to every Photo of the Week.

Most of the time, there is more to the Photo of the Week story than can be told in an essay. And most of the time there are more pictures to be seen. Presuming that some folk will enjoy being privy to this trove of information, I have created a blog, “Weekly Grist for the Eyes and Mind,” where I am showing and telling “the rest of the story." There are also some blatantly commercial mentions of some of the things we do to earn our beans and taters. Click on the Weekly Grist logo and go to the blog.  — J. D.