The Federated Church’s weather vane, a favorite perch of Edgartown birds and a shining beacon to sailors, was returned to the steeple on Thursday.
The Federated Church’s weather vane, a favorite perch of Edgartown birds and a shining beacon to sailors, was returned to the steeple on Thursday.
Actually it is a new weather vane but from 140 feet away, down on the ground, no one will be able to tell. Besides being an exact reproduction of the weather vane that previously stood atop the Federated Church (which was also an exact reproduction of the weather vane before it) the new one is shinier and sturdier.
The weather vane is 76 inches tall, and the banner is 72 inches long.
The weather vane is 76 inches tall, and the banner is 72 inches long.
“When I asked [West Coast Weather Vanes] how long it would last, they said, ‘your building will go out before this wears out,’” said Bob Stone, a property committee member of the church who worked on the project.
Installing the weather vane took all morning, and by 1:30 p.m. steeplejack Frank Allard, from Dennis, and his partner were securing the compass points and attaching the banner. The 1987 weather vane had been removed in May, due to rust.
“Our weather vane had weathered so badly, it was in danger of falling,” said Bruce Doten, the property manager for the church. A substantial donation from the Vineyard Golf Club Foundation enabled the church to commission a reproduction.
Mr. Allard, who also took the weather vane down in the spring, is 76 years old and an avid surfer, according to the church members. In a brief moment when Mr. Allard wasn’t dangling from a crane 140 feet in the air, he said the installation was going well, but one piece of the puzzle was missing: set screws that would keep the pole from rotating.
“We don’t want the pole to turn,” said Mr. Allard. “The pole with south, east, north, west turning? The world would change direction.”
After the proper placement, time for a bit of painting touch-up.
After the proper placement, time for a bit of painting touch-up.
Mr. Doten, along with Elizabeth Stone and Pastor David Berube, squinted up at the steeple in the bright morning light, watching the installation. The exact origin of the original weather vane is not known, but church members guess that the classic banner shape was selected from a catalogue around the time the current church building was created in 1828. The Federated Church traces its origins to 1642.
“It’s a traditional vane on a church,” said Mrs. Stone. “It’s not a pig or a goat or a this or a that.”
The weather vane is 76 inches tall, and the banner is 72 inches long. Each letter denoting north, south, east and west is nine inches tall. It is made of copper structural elements with a gold leafed banner, globes and letters.
Each iteration of the reproduction has been carefully copied from those that came before it, but the historical significance isn’t necessarily in the design, it’s in the presence of the weather vane.
“It’s a directional preceptor through the life and time of the church,” said Mr. Doten.
Comments
I hope they did not forget to
Mark Hess EdgartownI hope they did not forget to reconnect the lightning rod this time. The last time they did that ( about 40 years ago ) the reconnection was overlooked. My brother and I were almost tossed from our bunks at our Cooke St. house from a massive strike in mid July at 2 in the morning. Roof shingles rained on the neighborhood, from the Charlotte Inn yard North to Mildred Merritt's yard south.
The weather vane that is
Chris Burgess / The Burgess Steeplejack Co, Pembroke Ma. Orleans ma.The weather vane that is being replaced was crafted by Travis Tuck from the vineyard, in 1981, The vane prior was damaged and used as a duplicate. It was made using 16 oz copper and a brass shaft. Our firm did a complete steeple restoration,and that was part of the scope of work.Mr Larz Fisher was the clerk of the works for the church then.
We had the pleasure of
LizAnne Jensen Santa Cruz CAWe had the pleasure of meeting Travis Tuck when we first got started making weather vanes back in the late 1980s. We took a tour of New England, visiting folks who specialized in custom copper weather vanes. We remember him as being very gracious, especially since we were the "new kids on the block".
Yes, Travis did make that
Ellie Tuck Vineyard HavenYes, Travis did make that weather vane in the early 80's. He always stamped his work TKT. I would like to know where that vane is now. Hopefully it will be saved as part of island history.
I am happy to report that the
Jim Butterick Martha's VineyardI am happy to report that the weather vane that had to be removed has been given to the Martha's Vineyard Museum for safekeeping. The museum also has elements of the older weathervane that were damaged and replaced when Mr. Tuck did his renovations in the early 80's. In the Spotlight exhibit that the museum did this past summer, there were pictures of the lightning damage that was done and referenced in another comment. Mr. Allard who removed the old weathervane and installed this new one was very aware of the need for a ground connection for lightning protection. We are delighted to see the weathervane back in place on top of the steeple of the Federated church. We are very appreciative of the Vineyard Golf Club's support of this restoration project.
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