Work has begun on the Stepney Heritage Trail Gazebo/Information Kiosk on the Stepney Green.
The structure, a 16’ diameter Heritage Bell, eight-sided gazebo, arrived in pieces at the Stepney Green via tractor-trailer and was unloaded by a small army of S.O.S. members.
The foundation and cement pad have been dug and poured and is now ready to construct the gazebo. Al Cortina and Dave Mackie volunteered their time to dig the foundation, frame it out and pour the cement pad for the gazebo.
Stone dust was spread into position surrounding the pad where a brick walk will be installed for visitors to walk around the outside of the gazebo/information kiosk and read the Stepney Heritage Trail history panels.
The structure goes up. Cal Mooney, a Stepney resident and quality builder and Cal’s helper, Dunbar Hough, volunteered to help with the assembly. The column bases were set into place and the column beam assemblies installed to insure the angle and position of the columns. The columns then had to set up and cure into their permanent positions before construction could continue.
Volunteerism excels in Stepney. Bob Baker, a local builder was driving by when he spotted fellow builder, Cal Mooney assisting Joel Leneker and Lee Hossler with the building of the new gazebo/information kiosk. Bob pitched in and just in time to help set the columns and place the capitol pieces on top of the columns.
Raising the Roof: A dedicated group of seven volunteers used their expertise to raise the eight sections of the Gazebo roof. Section by section, they went into place like a puzzle until the final piece slipped into place. Ned Steinmetz furnished the Brown Memorial crane to hoist the roof sections into place. Scaffolding from Taylor Rental provided the platform for contractors Cal Mooney and Bob Baker to fasten the sections to the base. SOS members Pete Wootton, Greg Loehr, Lee Hossler and Joel Leneker assisted from the ground and ladders. Sisters from the Our Lady of the Rosary supplied much needed refreshments and our resident photographer Evelyn Pravecek photographed the progress of construction.