Boothbay Harbor First United Methodist Church continues to sparkle.

On Wednesday morning, Aug. 5, a worker using a W.D. Matthews boom lift secured the familiar weathervane modeled after the schooner Bowdoin back on the church spire. 

Church member Cathy Blake provided the following information behind the reinstallation.

"During a winter storm, the brackets supporting the church's weathervane and its decorative top piece—a silhouette of the sailing schooner Bowdoin—failed, sending both to the ground. The fall damaged the Bowdoin and caused one of the directional letters to be lost.

"Joel Bennett of J.B. Powder Coating and Welding in Chelsea, Maine, repaired the damaged pieces before sandblasting them and applying a durable powder-coated finish. This protective coating provides a smooth, long-lasting surface that is expected to outlast conventional paint.

"The damaged bracket assemblies were fabricated and replaced using high-grade stainless steel stock by Robert Bolton of New Hampshire, a relative of a church member. These machined replacement parts are designed to provide a more secure and stable mounting.

"The restored weathervane was reinstalled by Andrew Wilcox, owner of Mid Maine Restoration of Waterville, Maine. Wilcox worked for the company's previous owner, Joe McSwain, for 15 years before purchasing the business in 2018.

"In addition to providing the crane needed for the installation, Wilcox also repainted the church spire, completing the restoration of one of the church's most recognizable landmarks."