Jul 2, 2009 5:36 pm US/Eastern
Lightning Strikes Historic Medway Steeple Twice
STERLING (WBZ) ―
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Smoke is seen moments after the steeple was hit by lightning.
WBZ
As workers removed hazardous pieces of charred wood, residents sadly took in this new void in the local landscape.
"I was on the front lawn, like this, trying not to let everyone see me crying. I was bawling my eyes out. I walk by here every day," said David Blackwell.
"It's part of Medway. It's the history of Medway," said Ethel Maguire.
Lightning struck the Medway Community Church steeple shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday. As Paul Rao's home video shows, the old wood went up in flames quickly.
"It's one of the landmarks in town and I was shocked to see it on fire."
According to Fire Chief Paul Trufant, "I actually saw a couple bolts of lightning and said that hit something close. And then the phone rang."
The early challenge for firefighters was to get water high enough to halt the spread. They managed to limit fire damage to the steeple and water damage to the rear of the sanctuary.
This isn't the first time the 195-year old church's steeple has come down, or even struck by lightning.
Said associate pastor Carl Schultz, "In 1939, we had a hurricane which resulted in the steeple coming through the roof and landing in the sanctuary, and then back in 1959 there was a lightning strike to the steeple as well."
And now, in 2009 -- a lightning strike and a fire.
But as many here look skyward they are thankful -- thankful it wasn't worse.
Schultz says Sunday services will be held on the lawn or in another building. He expects the steeple will be rebuilt.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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