March-2024 Cooperative Living-SVEC - SVEC23

Nifty Nest
respectfully.
Th ough the aesthetic of the exterior
off ered the charm that drew Sassi in,
the juxtaposition of solar panels on
the property was a welcomed bonus. A
modern feature connected to such an
old building off ers benefi ts in effi ciency.
Th e panels were one of many additions
made by the church's fi rst live-in owner,
who began renovating the space into
something inhabitable around 2001.
With a seemingly sky-high ceiling, openair
rooms and century-old stained-glass
windows, effi cient isn't the fi rst word
that comes to mind in such a space -
more like grand.
As far as the home's historic details
go, Sassi admits picking a favorite is
diffi cult. Weber chimes in that it's the
ceiling for her. It's a true " cathedral "
ceiling, curved and fully covered in
original hardwood.
" Th e ceiling is its own architectural
statement. It's amazing, " Sassi says. " I
love the stained-glass window above the
door because of the way the light plays
on the church [at] diff erent hours. It'll
cast these amazing shadows. "
Only a couple of street-facing
windows are still fully stained glass.
Most of them have been fi tted with clear
glass to allow a view of the outdoors, and
Original, hardwood ceilings are visible
in the main room of the former church
and from the bedrooms in the loft.
Just below the roof's peak, a round, stained-glass
window stays illuminated through the night.
bring more light in as well. Sassi hopes to
get them all in operable condition, so she
can enjoy a nice breeze inside this spring.
Doing so may be no small feat because
the bottom sections alone, which would
slide to open, are taller than the entirety
of most standard windows.
Much of the attic space remains
unfi nished. One of her ideas is to add
access to a getaway nest in the loſt y
nook of what was once the bell tower.
Part way up the tower, out of view from
the main living space, lies the building's
most prominent stained-glass piece: a
small rose window. Th e circular fl oral
shape includes petals of four diff erent
colors and is framed in a brick detail
that diff ers from the rest of the exterior.
Sassi says they leave the light inside the
tower on all night so passersby can enjoy
the rainbow coming through the glass
to the full extent. With such a beautiful
feature currently unseen from the inside,
it's no wonder a tower hideaway is on the
renovation agenda.
HISTORIC HAVEN
Besides basic updates, such as
bathroom fi xtures, Sassi plans to keep
the building and fl oor plan mostly as is.
She says: " I think the bones on the
inside are pretty good. I don't think I
want to do a whole lot. "
Sassi says she embraces the quirky. At
most, she'll make a few cosmetic changes
that won't take away from the historic
appeal she values.
One notable characteristic seen
throughout the home is the antique
svec.coop
wooden wainscoting that
mirrors the planks on the
ceiling. Th e woodwork
even encompasses the
base of a jacuzzi in the
main bathroom, which
Sassi thinks could have
been a baptistry in its
past life. Th e wainscoting
is only missing in a
couple areas, such as the
kitchen and bathroom,
where cabinets or
appliances have been
added, but even those
boards were saved. Some
have been repurposed into the entryway
ceiling, where curved walls were added
to create rooms separated from the
sanctuary, or main living area. Using the
same wood to mimic the original ceiling
design helped keep the integrity of the
atmosphere intact through the changes.
Even though it's located in a rural
area, Shemariah Church has at least
two claims to fame. Th e fi rst is the Rev.
Luther Emerson, a direct relative of the
renowned poet Ralph Waldo Emerson,
led the church for 15 years and is buried
in the graveyard across the street. Th e
second was the home's previous owner
(and fi rst renovator) Mark David
Kersey, who worked as head greensman
for many Hollywood fi lms. Some
of his most famous projects include
" War of the Worlds, " " Th e Men Who
Stare at Goats " and " Practical Magic. "
Aſt er stumbling across it while fi lming
" Gods and Generals, " Kersey purchased
Shemariah Church and spent many years
renovating the property to its current
status of a home.
Sassi's love of her new home is
evident in how she describes it.
She says: " Th is place has this energy
about it, very calming. When you walk
into the space, it just feels good, even the
land. So, I feel pretty blessed that we get
to live here. " *
Nifty Nest is an occasional feature
that highlights a co-op member who
takes a creative touch to powering
their lives.
March 2024 * Cooperative Living * 21
http://www.svec.coop
March-2024 Cooperative Living-SVEC

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