The New Era
The steeple of Albany’s historic Cumberland Church, built in 1892, will be removed for refurbishing and replacement on Wednesday, Sept. 1, and the building itself will make its long-awaited journey from the corner of Main Street and Santiam Road to its new location near Eleanor Hackelman Park on Pine Street at 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 16.
Emmert International Moving Company of Portland is moving the church. A road closure will be in place during the process along Santiam from Main to Pine streets, with detours around the site at the intersections of Main and Santiam and Pine and Santiam.
The public is asked to remain a safe distance from the activity, which can be viewed early in the day near the northwest end of the Carriage House Plaza Shopping Mall as the church is lifted from its foundation, or later from Eleanor Hackelman Park as the building approaches its destination. Spectators are advised to walk to the site, as area parking is limited.
For those who cannot attend, the Cumberland Community Center will hold a short celebration at 6:30 p.m. that day in the parking lot of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 1225 Sixth Ave. SE.
Efforts to save the church and transform it into a community center began in 2018 with the formation of the Save Our Cumberland Association. The group then worked out a deal with the city to purchase the new property upon which to move the landmark.
For more information, contact the Cumberland Community Center via email at [email protected].