Somesville Union Meeting House
United Church of Christ, Mount Desert, Maine
The SUMH Steeple
The Somesville Union Meeting House (SUMH) is located in the village of Somesville on Mount Desert Island, Maine.
We are fundraising to maintain and restore our steeple.
Donations can be made by mailing a check to:
Steeple Fund, SUMH, PO Box 96, Mount Desert, Maine 04660
or Via PayPal
"While the steeple may point to heaven, it is important to remember that the church, in the UCC tradition, is fundamentally about the gathered community of people, not just the building itself."
Our Story
The village of Somesville is a uniquely beautiful place and an important Mount Desert Island landmark. A New England historic experience for literally millions of visitors annually. Along with the mill pond and historic bridge, the library, the AV Higgins Store and the many restored old homes along Main Street, the Somesville Union Meeting House is a beacon of our island community.
The bell was first rung in 1858 and still rings on Sunday mornings.
The church and its steeple have been well cared for over the years as has the entire church property. Beacause we are committed to its longevity, we are now planning maintenance and painting of the steeple.
The Project
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Projected start date is August 2025
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Grant approved for partial cost
We applied for a grant to the Maine Steeples Fund to help us cover the repairs to the steeple.
Steeples represent an important part of the history and culture of almost all small towns in Maine, and are a visually significant architectural element in these communities. Most were built in the middle of the 19th century and many have been subject to deferred maintenance, resulting in leaks and leaning and worse. Few architectural elements are more exposed to threats than church steeples: wind, moisture, gravity, age, decay, deferred maintenance, difficulty and expense of repair. The need to stabilize and maintain these steeples is immediate.
Scope of Work
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Improve access to the Steeple
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Remove old equipment
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Remove and build new Shutters
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Improve hatch to Steeple
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Update and paint exterior siding of lower Steeple
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Paint Spire
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Paint midsection