New dome perched atop rebuilt church

Atop Walhalla Presbyterian Church is a new copper dome, and it is considered one of the final pieces to restore one of Walhalla’s oldest places of worship. The church on E. Main Street heavily damaged in 2013 by fire. The new dome, which arrived from Kentucky in two pieces, weighs a total of 5,600 pounds and required a large crane to move it into place. Faced with having to find alternate places to worship, the Presbyterians invested a lot of time, effort and money to rebuild the church. As much as $2.8 million dollars went into the re-build, according to church member Jess Neville. That figure represents insurance proceeds, church money, and contributions from the community. The new dome arrived yesterday by transport truck, and the process of lifting it into place created a spectacle that many church members and others recorded by taking lots of pictures. As church member Rosemary Bailes said, “This is history.” Her church officially turns 100 years old next month.