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There have been many upgrades to Hillcrest since it found its spot on the hill in 1971.
In 1984 a $204,000 addition was built along 20 of the 50 foot north wall. A primary purpose was to add space for Sunday School classrooms. It also permitted the addition of more general meeting places, a larger choir room and choir loft, and a larger minister's study. Then in 1991, in preparation for the arrival of a second minister, the addition was extended along the remainder of the north wall. During the same period, $50,000 worth of stained glass windows, choir gowns worth $10,000 and a new organ valued at $40,000 were also added. Anne and David White donated our beautiful grand piano in 2006, dedicated to the memory of Anne's mother and long time congregant Fran Shaw. In 2009, Edgar Dewar built a beautiful floor- to -ceiling choir cabinet, with a place to store music for every member of the choirs. In 2013 a $50,000 lift was installed, making Hillcrest truly accessible. The dream started in 2003 with an endowment from the Wigginton family in memory of Muriel Wigginton. Many years of research, UCW bake sale fund-raising and a major federal grant later, the dream became a reality. n 2021, a UCC Faithful Footprints grant enabled Hillcrest to install six heat pumps, an electric hot water heater, all new LED lighting, and four new basement windows were installed. In the course of completing this project it was discovered that our 30 year old oil boiler was in desperate need of replacement; so two smaller efficient boilers were installed. The newly formed technology team also replaced aging computers and began purchasing equipment to offer better digital streaming of services and events. The upgrades do not include the many smaller building projects carried out over the years by tireless volunteers, keeping the building in good repair and adapting it to changing needs. |