As part of major renovations and improvements at St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish in downtown Watsonville, the historic brick structure, at Main Street and Freedom Boulevard, was wrapped up in dramatic black and yellow material Tuesday to allow for termite control.
A crew from Best Care Fumigation spent the bulk of the day Tuesday tightening the wraps around the building, built in 1903, with the aid of a skylift, towering ladders and safety harnesses.
Pastor Jason Simas said the work is part of a major repair and renovation after an arsonist’s fire tore through the church on Oct. 17.
Simas added in the church’s Facebook page that the fire occurred in the section of the wall between the piano and the organ and damaged two stations of the cross, one stained glass window, and the organ console. Additionally, there was water damage from efforts to quell the flames, requiring a restoration company to remove the carpet.
The repair work includes new bathrooms, wheelchair ramp and seating, choir space, extra pews, tabernacle security, confessionals with seating and a new parking lot, landscaping work and more.
“If all goes according to plan, we hope to be open by St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2024,” Simas said.
