OLD ORCHARD BEACH — As the scent of downed pine trees wafted down Temple Avenue Thursday morning, it smelled a bit like Christmas. The scene, however, told a more somber story.

Temple Avenue runs through the center of the Ocean Park Association, a closely knit Chautauqua community established in 1881 that hosts a busy summer schedule of educational, recreational and spiritual activities. 

As the storm came through the area Sunday into Monday, it took down some of the large majestic pines that have towered over the area for decades, downing utility poles and damaging Porter Hall, a building that dates back to 1902 and one of a cluster of community buildings on Temple Avenue.

One of the trees made “a direct hit” on Porter Hall, said Ocean Park Association Director Jerry Gosselin. The roof was damaged and an ornamental column in front of the building was torn down. The building has been stabilized until further work can be done. It is believed that the building shifted during the hit, and the association will likely get the building looked at a by a structural engineer. The hall will be rebuilt with respect to its historic nature, said Gosselin. 

Gosselin said the top of the tree was cut off in sections, which were removed through a hole in the roof. Using a pulley tied to another tree, the rest of the tree was slowly brought off the roof, he said.

Thursday, crews were working to restore power on a blocked off section of Temple Avenue as a nearby generator buzzed in the driveway of a local home. 

Though the area was blocked off to cars, there were plenty of people stopping by to take pictures with their cell phones and assess the progress that had been made over the past few days.

“It’s a lot of work,” said one local man as he walked away, phone in hand. 

Nearby Porter Hall, The Temple, a unique octagon shaped building constructed in 1881, had a close call with a tree, a tall pine fell on the steps, but missed the rest of the building.

“I don’t use the word miracle lightly,” said Gosselin, but that’s what he thought the near miss was.

Gosselin said the trees along Temple Avenue typically lean toward the street away from the buildings, but in the case of the recent storm, which was more of a south easter than the usual north easter, trees fell in the other direction.

However, despite the damage to one of the assocation’s beloved buildings, Gosselin said the community was fortunate that no one was injured.

Ironically, Gosselin said, the association’s property committee was in the process of forming a tree sub-committee to study the community’s trees. Gosselin said the recent event has caused enough concern in the community to warrant a review of the area’s trees, keeping in mind conservation easements. 

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.