EASTHAMPTON — After a sudden ceiling collapse in April, leaving knee-high debris and dust throughout the Fellowship Hall of Easthampton Congregational Church, the area is cleaned up, but ceiling restoration has not begun.
The hall, which is separate from the sanctuary, holds children’s classrooms, office space and gatherings, activities that now take place in other parts of the church until ceiling work is complete later this year. For safety purposes, the church temporarily held services at First Congregational Church of Southampton and moved a few confirmation classes to Easthampton Community Center. Services returned to the church a short time after the ceiling collapse.
Piles of ceiling plaster, insulation and other debris were cleaned up by a professional company hired by the church. The rafters are still intact, but trustee Kirby Detmers said about 100 need to be reinforced.
Construction has not started because of different interpretations of the insurance policy. The church is currently negotiating with its insurance company to resolve the matter.
Meantime, the Rev. Sherry Tucker said the goal is to have the project complete by December. “We’re making good progress,” she said.
There has been a lot of support from the community, including work provided by Easthampton Electrical Service, Tucker said.
Although professionals cleaned up the debris from the collapse, there was still a lot of dust. Tucker said people would cough just by walking in the room.
About 25 volunteers helped clean the building by mopping and washing the walls.
Due to the collapse, the church’s annual “Monster Tag Sale” in May was postponed and will now be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. The church is at 112 Main St.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.