Signatures of Old

1850
1902 - Frank H. Tracy
Stella Craig

The names are unfamiliar but the history felt within the walls of the Mercer Meeting House is abundant.

I ventured into the bell tower today. We have some necessary ceiling repairs to do and we needed a look from above the suspended ceiling. The bell tower did not disappoint. It smells of old barn boards, weathered wood and dust. The staircases, albeit small, are sturdy. Unlike the floorboards leading from one staircase to another as you circle your way upward.

I was struck by the craftsmanship. These stairs, where possibly Frank, Stella and the others had once stepped, have held up for more than a century. The countless pulls on the rope that bring the original bell to life.

Perhaps for one moment, I traveled back to the days of old.