History Preserved at Calvary Baptist Church

By Layla Kalinen
Eagle Times Staff

CLAREMONT, NH — In a long shot and effort to “think smarter, not harder,” Calvary Baptist Church recently replaced its steeple using underground support materials from an old basketball hoop on the Claremont Christian Academy property, preserving a neat piece of history.

“Forty years ago, my dad, Chip Lawry on Maple Ave, made a basketball hoop for the church down the road using 6-by-6 posts. My brother, Peter, and sister, Cindy, attended Claremont Christian Academy and used this hoop all growing up,” reminisces Daniel Lawry. “Over time, it rotted a little at the ground level where both air and water got to it.”

Lawry says this hoop, a vestige of his childhood memories, reinforces the impact his father, Chip, 78, is leaving on the community.

“Last year it was pulled out, but Dad saved what was below ground. Nothing is wasted. On Saturday, my dad and some of the guys installed a new steeple at Calvary Baptist Church,” Lawry said. “He had taken what was below ground, cleaned it, shaped it and painted it with oil (for the serious jobs, he doesn’t trust latex paint). He said there was absolutely no rot and will be better than the original.”

Lawry told the story of how his father’s work is everywhere in their faith-based community.

“His handiwork is shown all over the homes of the people of the church, especially those who have trouble doing things for themselves. It doesn’t seem to matter their status or outward appearance or intelligence,” Lawry said. “I think if Jesus were here, he’d be hauling, cutting, nailing, painting, and smiling and laughing just like these guys in the picture.”