HASSO HERING

A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley

Church’s move was imminent; now it’s not

Written September 29th, 2021 by Hasso Hering

The former Cumberland church as it looked Tuesday evening, ready for its move on Thursday.

Yesterday the move of the historic former Cumberland Church in Albany appeared imminent, as the original version of this story said. But not any more.

The move had been been scheduled on three dates this month but then had to be postponed. Then it was set for Thursday, tomorrow. But as a note from Joel Orton of the Cumberland Community Events Center said this morning, it is off again. See his note in the comments below.

As you know by now, a private nonprofit has acquired the building and hired Emmert International to move it. They hope to expand and renovate the structure as a community events center.

The building sits at Santiam Road and Main Street, where it was constructed in 1892 and later expanded. It will be towed, eventually, a couple of blocks up Santiam Road and across the railroad tracks to property the events center group is buying from the city. The site, at Santiam and Pine, has been excavated and otherwise made ready to receive the building.

The move was first scheduled on Sept. 2, then rescheduled to Sept. 16, then to Sept. 28. Each time it had to be postponed because of one reason or another. Moving a building  across the mainline of the Union Pacific evidently is harder to arrange than expected.

Leaders and supporters of the project, led by President Emma Eaton of the events center board, gathered at the new site Tuesday night to celebrate the forthcoming move.

See below for an idea of how Varitone Architecture, an Albany firm, envisions the look of the structure when the events center is complete. (hh)





9 responses to “Church’s move was imminent; now it’s not”

  1. Joel Orton says:

    Please note that the September 30 move date was tentative because Emmert was still waiting confirmation from the railroad – coordination of the tracks crossing is a key element of the move. As of this morning (Sept. 29), Emmert has not received an update from the railroad (Union Pacific) and so the building won’t be moved on the 30th.
    As soon as a new move date has been confirmed it will be publicized.

    • John Stacy says:

      The move date being postponed is frustrating but I understand about the train. It makes sense the danger of moving a large building and a truck in front and other vehicles next to it. Wouldn’t wanna have the train coming with all that going on. Isn’t there some way you can call different numbers to get them to respond?

    • Rachan Orr says:

      Could you please give the small businesses around the move site more of an advance? Since the roads will be closed its hard for shops to be open. Thank you.

    • mike says:

      As a business owner in the Carriage House Plaza I have not been pleased. There has been no information shared with us. All the shops were closed for the “MOVE” on Tuesday.

  2. Bob Woods says:

    Old observation:

    There’s God,
    the Railroads,
    and the US Constitution.
    In that order. ;-)

    • HowlingCicada says:

      Somewhere in the list, before last place, you could add the miners (of real metals, not Ponzi tokens) because of the 1872 Mining Law.

  3. Pat essensa says:

    Thank you Hassso you seem to be the only one that keeps us informed

  4. Jim Engel says:

    Hey sheeple, until we can get our Congress to change the idea that “we” are crossing R/R property (land grants of the late 1800’s) to the R/R is crossing “our public property” we’ll still have blockages at Queen St, etc. Nothing but nothing comes to Albany by rail. It’s TRUCKS that bring it! Yes, many miles away at railheads but still trucks.

    Don’t get me going about the Mining Law & you can get 100 acres free!!

 

 
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