By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

FORT PLAIN — With the completion of the most recent list of tasks at the former Universalist Church here at the corner of Mohawk and Center streets, members of Historic Fort Plain are looking to their next big step: The hiring of an architect.

During a recent fundraising event featuring Stone Soup and The Dependents at the Beardslee Castle, Tolga Morawski, treasurer of Historic Fort Plain’s Unity Hall project, said the group is raising money in order to hire Crawford & Stearns Architects of Syracuse.

With about 75 people in attendance for the benefit concert, he said the organization, which is currently applying for status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, is inching closer to its fundraising goal. Their next fundraiser will be held at The Table Restaurant in Fort Plain in mid- to late-July.

In a May 28 e-mail, Morawski wrote, “The membership drive is going well, as is our fundraising. We kicked off a $20,000 fund drive May 2nd (the 116th anniversary of the cornerstone laying) and have already reached $5,000.”

The “existing conditions assessment” proposed by Crawford & Stearns has a price tag of $3,250. For that sum, Morawski said the architects “will go through the building top to bottom, figure out what work needs to be done, prioritize that work from most to least pressing and give us some idea of costs for completing the necessary work.”

The group’s current priorities at the site are “some minor roof repairs to stop some small leaks, repointing brickwork where needed, and replacing flooring on the first floor,” he added.

Historic Fort Plain has come a long way since their open house at the Elephant Bistro in Canajoharie in late March.

During that event, Douglas Greene, the director of planning and development for the Montgomery County Planning Department, said the grassroots group is “another great example of how the community stood up and saved the church from demolition. They will find a way to use it to the betterment of the community.”

Richard and Lori Strunk, of Palatine Bridge, were also present.

Richard owns Windy Hill Restoration, and Lori is an architectural historian.

When asked to elaborate on the features that make the former church such a local treasure, Richard noted the painted tin ceiling “is amazing,” and the stained glass windows are beautiful.

“When you walk in the building, on the first floor it’s sort of a big space; but when you walk upstairs, it’s, ‘Oh, my,’” he said.

“The ‘Wow Factor’ will change their mind,” said Lori, who described the architectural style of the building as Richardsonian Romanesque.

Richard said the exterior brick is special because it’s smooth, flat-faced, and very high quality. Additionally, locally quarried limestone was used for the windowsills and lintels, and the use of terra-cotta features reflect the art nouveau influence.

“The congregation had a lot of money when they built that church,” he added.

While he doesn’t have a lot of time, he said he’s doing some materials’ donation and consulting on the project.

For information about volunteering or becoming a member of Historic Fort Plain, please write to Historic Fort Plain Inc. at P.O. Box 53, Fort Plain, NY 13339, or visit the organization’s website at www.HistoricFortPlain.com.