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Carole Mikita reporting A huge structure made its way down I-15 this morning on the back of a flatbed semi.
The members of the Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. are awaiting the arrival of their steeple, made in Utah.
Completed on time and looking just as the designers had envisioned, the new steeple is readied for a long journey.
Built by Unlimited Designs, Inc., a Utah company that specializes in spires, it will adorn an old church thousands of miles away.
Don Williams, partner, Unlimited Designs Inc."This is kind of a rare steeple because of its open design and unique shape, so, it's fun for us... Yeh, we're real excited to be working with something especially in Washington, D.C.... That's exciting just because of the glamour of D.C."
The spire will rest atop the tower of Calvary Baptist Church, a beautiful 19th century structure five blocks from the White House. This is what it looked like before a tornado damaged the steeple in 1913.
The scaffolding is now in place as the anticipation mounts.
Ishmael Alvarado, project foreman"iI's important to D.C. because it's bringing it back to the original conditions, whenever they built it..."
When it's finished the new steeple will stand 185 feet above the pavement.
John Mein, Youth Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church: "We thank you all for your hard work and we can't wait to see the steeple when it arrives in February..."
Also waiting is the church's original bell, made in 1869. It will have a new home and ring once again. But first, the steeple has to travel from Utah.
At 76 feet long and 10-thousand pounds, it's going to take two weeks to get it to Washington D.C..
As the sturdy but precious cargo left the company property, many hopes went with it, first for a safe arrival and then, that this steeple would compliment and crown a landmark in the nation's Capitol.
Weather-permitting, the steeple should be placed on the church February 15th.
