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Youngstown steeple to get new cupola

YOUNGSTOWN — Unitarian Universalist Church, 1105 Elm St., at Wick Park will be getting a new cupola next week.

Church officials said the project was to have been done this past week, but there was concern by the engineering firm of Adolph and Sons of Youngstown about doing the installation in wind and rainy weather.

Installation work is planned for Monday.

The Rev. Joseph Boyd said the new cupola will replace the former 90-year-old, 96-foot steeple and supporting base removed in January 2013, because of internal wood rot and structural safety concerns.

He said the cupola is being transported by truck from the manufacturing site in Texas. The cupola will be lifted by crane and placed on the existing “stump” where the original steeple formerly stood.

A cupola is a tall structure with a windowed dome at the top and windows surrounding the base. The cupola design was selected by the congregation as a symbolic structure to emphasize the historic relationship of the church with the North Side of Youngstown.

The cupola is 10 feet at the base and 27 feet tall. The project cost is approximately $65,000, donated by church members and the Church Endowment Fund designated for building maintenance and repair. The cupola will include variable lighting effects along with sound capability when completely installed.

Boyd said a formal dedication by the congregation is planned for the spring.

The church was established in 1892.

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