The Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge has finished a $732,000 upgrade to its Hilltop House, allowing for new winter programming.
Until this year, the Hilltop House, originally built in 1949 and used for gatherings and wedding receptions, was closed and winterized when the cold weather hit each year. The new, extensive renovations on the building included a new heating and septic system to make it more permanently available. This is the first year it has been available to wedding parties – though on a limited scale due to COVID-19 restrictions – and has become the new permanent office space for Cathedral of the Pines Executive Director Patricia Vargas.
“It’s been a strange year, but we’re looking forward,” Vargas said. “We’re looking at the things we’ll be able to do in the future with the space.”
The renovations include major upgrades to the Hilltop House function hall, including expanding the space by about a third and aesthetic upgrades as well as a new bridal suite and technological upgrades such as a new sound system and heating system. There is also a new addition to the building, which now houses new bathrooms, storage and office spaces, as well as providing a handicapped accessible entrance to the lower floor of the building and historic museum.
Vargas said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cathedral of the Pines did not do as large a fundraising push as usual in 2020, and their fundraising for 2021 will be put toward paying off the new renovations. So far, the nonprofit has raised a total of $465,000 toward the $732,000 total of the cost.
The Cathedral of the Pines has been awarded $150,000 in Community Development Finance Authority tax credits. Through the program, a business can make a financial contribution to the project, and receive as much as 86 percent back through tax credits.
For more about the Cathedral of the Pines or how to contribute, contact Patricia Vargas at 899-3300.
The Hilltop House is open from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to visitors.