MICAH building gets a face lift

The MICAH building at 680 State Street has been given new life. Built in 1925 as Salem Elks lodge No. 336, the brick-covered 34,000-square-foot building had seen better days until its recent renovation. It survived a fire in 1961. It survived three more blazes (including an arson) in 1981. It survived attempts at redevelopment. Now, firmly a part of the First United Methodist Church of Salem, the building has been renovated as an investment in the congregation's future.

Several hundred church-goers gathered Sunday afternoon to celebrate the building's renovation, which took three years and cost $680,000.

The building's second floor, which houses a worship area and a large multipurpose room, was gutted and built back up from the foundation. Ray Lewellan, a congregation member and retired architect, was the project's manager.

Lewellan said that starting the renovation was a challenge because there weren't any blueprints. In lieu of official drawings, he made his own. As the project got underway, the building revealed its share of secrets, Lewellan said. Lewellan, workers and volunteers found a 12 foot high arched window had been hidden in an wall at the center of the building. A shaft to a rooftop skylight illuminated the window, which dated to the days of the Elks lodge.

"It was totally a surprise," Lewellan said.

In what became the renovated kitchen, Lewellan and his team were removing a dumbwaiter when they found their measurements were off by three feet. On closer inspection, they found a small section of wall that accounted for the inaccurate measurements. Behind it was an unknown staircase, sealed off for decades.

First United Methodist Church to restore spire, closing lanes on State Street

Sunday's celebration thanked the workers and volunteers who updated the building, and let the community know about the last jobs to complete. The floor was replaced, the entire space painted, chandeliers painted and hung, a new sound system and booth installed, an alter carved by hand, the kitchen refurbished and more. The main thing left to do is finish updating the roof.

The primary church building next door, known for its historic, tall spire, also received some updates. The spire was power washed and painted, and the 19th century wooden cross at its top was replaced with a weatherproof replica.

The Rev. Dan Pitney, pastor for First United Methodist Church of Salem, said the renovations are an investment in the next generation of church members. The MICAH building also gives the church an opportunity to have less formal worship services there and more traditional services at the larger church next door, Pitney said.

Congregation member Kathy Pressler called the updates "a commitment to the future of the church."

Jan Morgan, char of the MICAH worship committee, said the renovations reflect the spirit of the congregation: bright and classy.

Congregation member Rebecca Cozart said she's excited that the space now has an art gallery featuring works of members and their children.

"It looks really wonderful," she said. "It's now a beautiful space."

gfriedman2@statesmanjournal.com, (503) 399-6653, on Twitter @gordonrfriedman or Facebook.com/gordonrfriedman