Metal Church Buildings Not A New Idea

Through the wonder of the internet, I get to communicate with photographers from around the world. While visiting the blog of a new acquaintance from Istanbul, Turkey, I learned of a metal church there that dates from the 1890's. So metal church buildings are not such a new idea after all.

Check it out by clicking:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_St_Stephen_Church

Church With A View

This is view of the new building site looking northwest. Pretty nice view, huh? (Photo made 2/11/07.)

Doin' the dirty work

The church construction site was a beehive of activity early Saturday morning as workers took advantage of the dry weather.

Dump trucks rolled in almost every minute as they hauled dirt being dug from a site on Howell Mill Road.

As soon as the dirt is dumped, a bulldozer moves in to spread it out before the next load arrives.

Church Building For Sale

Now that there is a "For Sale" sign in front of Woodland Baptist Church, I wonder what people are thinking when they see it? "Are they moving?" "Are they going out of business?" "Who would want to buy a church?" "I wonder how much a church goes for nowadays?" Who knows what they're thinking. I just know God has a buyer out there, because the Bible says He will provide for all our needs.

I've heard rumors that one inquirer just wants the property to build houses or apartments. I really don't care what the next owner does with it, but it would be nice if another church bought it to use as a church. Just in case the building is torn down by the next owner, I plan to make a series of documentary photos of the building and its interior to remember her by. There's a lot of memories in that building.

You've Got Dirt!

Brian Noland called me last night to let me know that the dirt has finally started arriving - 25 or so loads on the first day! I went out first thing this morning to get some pictures. What had been dumped yesterday had already been spread and compacted as you can see in the picture. Lots more dirt will be needed to raise the grade 10-12 feet above what you see here, but at least the filling has begun!

It pays to ask questions.

On my last post I poked a little fun at WNC Paving for not coming through with any dirt yet. After visiting the site this morning and talking with some of the workers there, I learned there's some drainage work that has to be done first. So that's what's going on now. Drainage pipe has to be installed first before they just start dumping dirt. Speaking as a native of Louisiana, trust me, good drainage is important. So now I'll be a little more patient about the dirt. As Paul Harvey says, "Now you know the rest of the story."

Anticipation

Meanwhile, back at WNC Paving headquarters . . .

"Silt fence in place?"
"Check."
"Compactor at site?"
"Check."
"What about an excavator?"
"Check."
"We'll need a grader too."
"Check."
"What about the dirt?"
"Uh, er, uh, the dirt?"
"Yeah, the dirt. It's a fill job, remember?"
"Uh, oh yeah, the dirt. Uh, yeah, this week, uh, weather permitting, of course."

************************
Well, it looks like everything is in place for the dirt to start arriving. The anticipation of seeing that first load dumped is building - to an excruciating level. Maybe this week. We hope.

Pray for good weather. Pray for dirt.