Red Mills Baptist Church



		Photo by Steve Harris

	Area professional carpenters from the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters Local Union 279 donated thousands of hours volunteering on Saturdays for nearly a year - especially Bill and Mike Tompkins, Vic Pinto, Brian Manoni, and Rick Kast. The project was lead by Carpenter Representative Edward Cooke who organized skilled labor from the local Building Trade Unions. Trade Unions that provided skilled labor and materials are Operating Engineers Local Union 137, Ornamental Ironworkers Local Union 580, IPUT DC 9 Painters, Ironworkers Local Union 417, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 38.


		In 2007, Preserve Putnam County oversaw the reconstruction of the Red Mills Baptist Church as a non-denominational meeting house at Putnam County’s Veterans Memorial Park on Gipsy Trail Road. Historic fabric of the old Red Mills Baptist church originally located in Mahopac, NY formed the basis for the reconstruction.



			Volunteers hoist the recreated steeple pinnacle into place at the Whipple-Feely Chapel at Putnam County Veteran's Park, December 3, 2011.

The copper flashing was handcrafted by retired Sheet Metal Worker Tim Dempsey and donated by R&S Roofing and Sheet Metal Company. The steeple pinnacle was designed by Tom Burndage and welded by apprentice Chris Barrett members of Sheet Metal Local Union 38. Ron Graves of Operating Engineers Local Union 15 created and donated the chapel bell.

Rodger and Sons Concrete donated material. Ecco III Enterprises donated the 80 foot boom lift used in the setting of the steeple. Heavy trucking was donated by John Puff Construction. The Crane work was donated by Brewster Crane for the assembly and A&J Cianciulli Inc.brought a 65 ton crane and rigging equipment for the moving and setting atop the chapel. Coordination and crane operation wasperformed by Peter Allegretta of Operating Engineers Local 137.

The Building Trade Unions raised over $25,000 in donations to complete the steeple reconstruction. In addition, George Carroll Whipple III donated substantially to the steeple project to help make it a reality.

The chapel is named in honor of deceased Putnam County veterans Capt. George Carroll Whipple, Jr. and Sgt. Robert Stanton Feeley. It is gifted in spirit to all of the Putnam County Veterans.

The tradesmen would like to thank Vietnam Marine Veteran Dwight Keith for his endless support. Many of the volunteers are veterans and felt great pride in constructing this project.

Edward Cooke, Peter Allegretta, and George Carroll Whipple III would like to thank all of the skilled Union Tradesmen and Professional Contractors who donated their time and resources to help create this beautiful addition in honor and remembrance of all Putnam County Veterans.

Society for the Preservation of Putnam County Antiquities and Greenways, Inc.