Dave Goodman, a 72-year-old church elder, pitches in with the painting at Arcata’s First Presbyterian Church. Photos/Reporting: John Ferrara.

Two local men spent this glorious last day of March far up high above the streets of Arcata, fixing up the landmark building whose care has fallen to them.

Pastor Daniel Link and church elder Dave Goodman were way up high on the bell tower of Arcata’s First Presbyterian Church at 11th and G with paintbrushes in hand, continuing the restoration work on the building’s tall bell tower that they’ve been doing off and on since last fall.

Link’s stewardship of the building is relatively new. He was named pastor of the church in September. He told the Outpost that after learning that it would cost some $26,000 to professionally restore the old building’s most striking feature, he and his congregation made the decision to take the work upon themselves.

The tower wasn’t in the best state of repair. Apart from the painting, at least one of the circular crosses that are among its most distinctive features had fallen completely off its mount. Slowly, steadily and frugally, the church’s peope are putting everything to rights.

Link went to school at Humboldt State about 35 years ago. He met his wife here. Afterward he went to seminary school on the East Coast. Then he joined the Navy.

He was stationed in San Diego and just getting ready to retire last year when he noticed that First Presbyterian was looking for a job. He decided to apply, and he got it. Now he’s back in Humboldt.

“Things just lined up perfectly, like it was God’s plan all along,” Link said. “It was like coming home.” 

The church’s bell tower is 99 years old, Link said. It’s build out of solid redwood. The bell it houses is rung by hand every Sunday.