a Bennington Historical Society presentation

Were you wondering why the top of the Old First Church was on the ground all summer? This presentation will dive into the lantern, roof, and bell deck preservation that took place in 2025. Wayne Kachmar will discuss the challenges and processes involved in preserving a landmark building, including a look at previous repairs and modifications over the structure’s 220 year history. You will learn about the processes and methods used to retain as much of the original structure as possible and how newer materials were blended with tools and methods consistent with the original builders. Wayne will share a pictorial step by step of the repairs to the roof, lantern, steeple, and the front façade, and talk about the challenges of keeping the church building in continual use during the restoration.

Wayne Kachmar is Chair of the board of trustees of the Old First Church in Old Bennington, Vermont. He is serving as the clerk of the works for the restoration of the sanctuary building. In his professional career, he is an Electro Optic engineer with over 45 years of industry experience and is the inventor on over 100 patents. Through both professional and volunteer work, he has overseen the building and/or renovation of many buildings, ranging from state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing centers, to this historic church.

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