Restoration crews are closing in on a major milestone at Springfield’s Old First Church, an 1819 landmark on Court Square. City officials say the first phase of work is nearing completion, including steeple repairs, masonry repointing, and restarting the church clock, which had not been running for at least 12 years.

Kronenberger & Sons Restoration has been on site for several months, with work that also includes replacing age-damaged joists and repainting the structure. According to reports cited by Hoodline, workers are replacing rotted wood with newly milled pieces matched to the original profiles, and they’re restoring the original wood columns at the entrance instead of covering them or swapping them out. The work is being completed to historic standards.

Work is also underway on the parish house at the rear of the property. That scope includes a new roof and decking, waterproofing, improved gutters, and repairs or replacement of interior floors. The city has also discussed restoring an antique rooster weathervane that once sat atop the steeple if funding remains.

The project is part of a $2.6 million effort, funded largely through remaining federal American Rescue Plan relief dollars, plus $300,000 from Community Preservation Act money. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said Springfield must spend the remaining federal funds by the end of 2026, a deadline that shapes planning and closeout for trades working on publicly funded preservation jobs.

Even as the exterior stabilizes, the harder question remains: what comes next inside. City officials have said accessibility is a central issue, with limitations on changes to the church’s front and sanctuary interior tied to historic-place rules. A July 2026 report cited by Hoodline described the exterior work as an initial phase and put a future interior renovation at an additional $10 million.

Read the full, original article from Hoodline here.