Ep 1. Trinity Lutheran Church

In Salvage Dawgs season 7 episode 1, the team at Black Dog Salvage takes on a project at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Roanoke, Virginia. The church, which was built in the 1920s, has seen better days, and the Salvage Dawgs are tasked with salvaging as much material as they can before the building is bulldozed to make way for a new development.

Mike, Robert, and the team start inside the church, where they carefully remove some beautiful stained glass windows. It's a delicate process, and the team takes their time to ensure the windows don't get damaged during removal. They also remove some of the pews and ornate woodwork that can be reused in other projects.

Outside, the team tackles the massive pipe organ, which is a major challenge. Removing the organ requires disassembling it piece by piece and then hoisting it out of the church through a window using a forklift. It's a painstaking process that requires a lot of care and attention, but the team ultimately succeeds in getting the organ out without damaging it.

Once the organ is removed, the team turns their attention to the bell tower. They start by removing the large bell from the tower, a process that requires some creative rigging. The bell is incredibly heavy, and the team needs to make sure it doesn't fall and cause damage during removal.

With the bell safely on the ground, the team starts dismantling the tower. The tower is constructed of heavy timbers, and the Salvage Dawgs use chainsaws, sawzalls, and other power tools to carefully take it apart piece by piece. They also salvage the tower's copper roof, which they plan to reuse in future projects.

As the project comes to a close, the Salvage Dawgs reflect on the history and significance of the Trinity Lutheran Church. They talk about how it's important to preserve pieces of history like this, especially when they can be reused in new and exciting ways. They also note that salvaging materials is an environmentally responsible way to repurpose resources, rather than simply sending them to a landfill.

Overall, Salvage Dawgs season 7 episode 1 is a fascinating look at the art of salvaging and repurposing building materials. The team at Black Dog Salvage demonstrates their expertise and care for the items they're salvaging, and the end result is a beautiful blend of old and new materials that will be used in future projects.