All rise (or two, at least)

After church, Sunday, July 12, a crew of Warren, Steve M., Bram, Larry, Lee and Paul finished raising the two main beams for the front entry awning. We had rented a hand-cranked lift to get them up in the air.

First, Steve and Warren built a wooden support for the outward ends of the beams. The welders wouldn't arrive until Monday to install the permanent metal supports. Then, Warren trimmed the beams to length.

Steve cranked the first beam higher than a mobile scaffolding. Then, the scaffolding was rolled under it. When the beam was set down in the wall bracket, it didn't quite fit. So, it was lifted out to allow minor adjustments to be made with Steve's plus-sized circular saw.

After that it was rinse and repeat with the other beam.

Once both were in place, they were squared up and braced.

Piece of cake.

Give Sue credit for taking all these photos.



After all that, a few of the crew went back to the shed and unloaded Warren's trailer. It was filled with wood from the big old beech tree that used to stand between the classroom building and Bruce Hall. These huge slabs are now carefully stacked, off the ground and covered, under the cedars north of the shed.