SALISBURY — The five-year campaign to restore the tower of the Salisbury Congregational Church was in the home stretch this spring when it hit a new snag. The clock and bell stages were repaired last season, and the bell rang out over the village for the first time in years on Christmas Eve. However, painters scraping the spire this spring discovered that it was also in serious condition. Funds were diverted from painting and other repairs to deal with the emergency. 
The church, which has raised some $220,000 for its project with grants from the state of Vermont and the Walter Cerf Fund, with the sale of its parsonage, with fundraising projects, and with the gifts of friends, finds itself still dependent on its angels to complete the necessary work of conserving this Addison County landmark. 
New angels have appeared to help in this effort through the donation of an elaborate dollhouse to be raffled this summer. The eight-room structure was constructed, decorated and completely furnished over a period of eight months by octogenarian Claudette DeVercelly of Altavista, Va., to be raffled to benefit her home church.
Virginia friends of the Salisbury church rallied their acquaintances to win the dollhouse with the purpose of sending it north as a gift to help the Salisbury steeple project. The dollhouse, which will be on display throughout the summer, is now poised to serve its second fundraising role, and ultimately to make some child or hobbyist very happy. 
Raffle tickets, which can be purchased from church members, are for sale at $5 apiece or four for $20. The raffle will take place at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28. (Ticketholders need not be present to win.) Beyond the immediate winner, there will be many more, for the proceeds will help preserve a local treasure.
Editor’s note: This article was submitted by Glenn Andres.