| Home | Latest News | Letters to the Editor |
| Newspaper Articles | Pictures | How to Help | E-Mail Us |
Project Restore: All Saints Church
The Word on the Street
The latest news regarding All Saints Church restoration efforts
Be sure to also check the Newspaper Articles web page for more news!
Iowan Preservation Award To Wagner
Des Moines, Ia. -- Architect William Wagner, who is well-known for restoring Iowa landmarks, was honored with The Iowan magazine's first David E. Archie Preservation Award.
Wagner is being honored for lifetime achievement in architectural preservation. Wagner, a semi-retired architect was selected for the honor for a broad range of architectural projects around the state. He was instrumental in restoring the Herbert Hoover Birthplace in West Branch, the Mamie Eisenhower house in Boone, the Henry A. Wallace farm near Greenfield, town squares in Winterset and Pella and a host of courthouses and other buildings.
The reception for Wagner was held at the State Historical Building where former Governor of Iowa Robert Ray presented the award to Wagner. Wagner has been a vocal supporter of efforts to restore the historic All Saints Church in Stuart, Iowa ravaged by fire in 1995.
|
|
Back to Latest News Menu
Topping Off... Comes Falling Down
On many buildings when the construction of the frame is about to reach the intended height, there is sometimes a ceremony called the "topping off".
The new church building had it's "topping off" last August of 1998. The final steel beam was signed by a festive group of parishioners and after it had been hoisted to the summit it broke loose, fell to the ground and was rendered unsafe to use. Later that day another steel beam was brought to the site and hoisted into place. We are unsure if the new beam carried the signatures of those people who had attended the ceremony earlier that morning. The broken beam falling to the ground appeared to many as a bad omen. Many parishioners and townspeople felt this because it happened to a church building in a parish that has been besieged with controversy.
In November of 1998, graffiti appeared on the new church building just before the final studs and plywood enveloped the structure. We are not aware of the particulars behind the graffiti, but thought it was ridiculous to see this on the church. A church building should be set apart for the service and worship of God. The building is sacred...... meaning not secular or profane. There was no attempt to remove the graffiti from the steel beam. It will remain there for the life of the building. (See photo of top beam below roof line of sacristy.)
Back to Latest News Menu
Parish In Disarray and Town Bewildered
December 1998, Stuart, Iowa - The actions of the local parish priest and parish council have left the Stuart parish in a state of
disarray and the towns citizens bewildered. Father Daniel Clarke approached members of Project
Restore saying he would Accept their offer to buy the old church building and would personally
endorse the proposal before the congregation.
A letter and sample ballot were sent out to the parish council and within a few days Father Clarke
was contacted by a few members from that body who demanded that Project Restore not receive
the building.
The ballot that the parish did receive that next weekend consisted of a litany of restrictions for
those who would be eligible to vote and also the personal opinions of Father Clarke in favor of
demolition of the building. Conservative estimates put the cost of demolition at over $30,000.00.
Despite the intimidation and comments from Father Clarke, out of a total of 109 votes
counted....53 were for Project Restore receiving the building. Father Clarke has now turned the
matter over to Bishop Charron to make the final decision.
Back to Latest News Menu
"Fence of Flowers" Returns
July 19 1997, Stuart, Iowa - When the "Fence of Flowers" was taken down by those few using Ku Klux Klan tactics (see July 17, 1997 Letter to the Editor), the response of the community was a new wall of flowers many times larger than the previous three which had been destroyed since Easter of this year.
Back to Latest News Menu
Project Restore To Participate At Heritage Expo 97
June 5 1997, Stuart, Iowa - Iowa's recent Sesquicentennial provided the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the value of our cherished traditions of community. These issues will be examined at Expo 97 whose planning team has worked
closely with the Iowa Humanities Board to develop a "Vital Communities" track that
consists of seven seminars and discussion groups and two keynote speakers.
Project Restore has been invited to present their story in the form of a
informational video, photo's and a visit to www.restoreallsaints.org, the group's website.
The expo is sponsored by the State Historical Society of Iowa and 19 planning
partners and will take place June 12-14 at the Iowa Historical Building, 600
E. Locust St. in Des Moines.
Back to Top
Where have all the flowers gone?
May 6 1997, Stuart, Iowa - It was just one week ago that the flower wall on the fence in front of the All Saints
Church building was demolished by those radicals who oppose Project Restore's
efforts to secure the building and preserve it for future generations.
On the morning of May 5th, 1997 after another prayer service this same group of radicals
walked up to the flower wall and committed this sacrilegious act again. Flowers had
appeared on the wall overnight and had been attracting the attention of the local
community..
Two eyewittnesses identified Kathy Fitzgerald as one of the persons demolishing the wall of flowers. Her husband is a parish council member and also on a Diocesan Task Force. The community is outraged that a small group of self-righteous people believe they can control the sentiments of the entire community.
Back to Top
Billboard campaign to hit Des Moines!
May 1997, Stuart, Iowa - Project Restore will launch a billboard advertising campaign to promote the
saving of the All Saints Church building. Project Restore is concentrating
its efforts on saving the building, not necessarily as the parish church, but
for some other use in order to save the only significant piece of
architecture for miles around.
Contrary to new rhetoric by the Des Moines
Diocese, a formal offer has been submitted in writing by Project Restore,
along with attempts to meet with the Bishop which have been stalled by
Diocesan officials. In light of these circumstances, Project Restore feels
it is time to turn up the heat with the billboard campaign.
Here's what the billboards will look like:
![SAVE THE BUILDING! Billboard](billboard.gif)
Back to Top
Get a Life!
May 1997, Stuart, Iowa - Have you ever heard a priest tell someone to "get a life?" Parishioners of All Saints have. A paragraph at the end of the weekly church bulletin tells parishioners to "take down the signs, unpack your bags and GET A LIFE."
This is in reference to the 250 "save the building" signs around town and in
response to a statement broadcast over TV news by a restore member that
restore people would be in the building to save it from demolition should
they begin the process. The Diocese was warned that water bottles and
sleeping bags were packed and that people would be in the building.
People who are in favor of demolition of the church are also quoted as saying they
would like to see Iowa's historic and beautiful Capitol Building with it's
gold domes demolished. The Capitol Building is being restored and a few
people think it is a waste of money.
Back to Top
'Wall of Flowers' Demolished
May 1997, Stuart, Iowa - After symbolizing hope for over a month, the beautiful wall of flowers on the
fence in front of All Saints was taken down by an anti-restore group of
radicals. Citizens became angry as they learned of the destruction of the
peaceful memorial and many asked why people would have this kind of
antagonism in their souls. It was reported that a group of sanctimonious
people who had just held a prayer service came out of the temporary church,
walked up to the flower wall and pull all the flowers down.
See a picture of the Wall of Flowers
Back to Top
Citizens Support Restoration; Construct 'Wall of Flowers'
April 1997, Stuart, Iowa - On a rally call by a non-catholic in the community, citizens and church
members constructed a wall of flowers on the fence in front of All Saints.
It reached thirty feet and symbolized the community's desire to save the
building, especially for those who felt they could not speak out publicly.
See a picture of the Wall of Flowers
Back to Top
Signs and Petition Show Community Supports Restoration
April 9, 1997, Stuart, Iowa -
The community of Stuart are showing their muscle in backing Project Restore's
efforts to preserve the landmark church building. Over 250 "Save the
Building" signs cover the community in yards, businesses and all over. The
main town current events sign displayed "Stop the wrecking ball. We want the
building!"
In addition, over 600 people signed the petition to stop the demolition and
to sell the building to Project Restore in an effort to preserve it. Des
Moines TV news saw the importance of this development in the ongoing saga.
Two different stations covered the story of the signs and petition and
Project Restore's request for the building. One tied the story into the
Easter Holiday.
Back to Top
Stuart City Council Shows Strong Leadership in Decision
February 10, 1997, Stuart, Iowa - The Stuart city council took a strong stance at its February 10, 1997 meeting. A contingent from the group trying to build a new church and destroy the landmark All Saints Byzantine church asked the council to annex 95 acres of unproductive farmland so as to develop the property for the new church. Four of the five councilmen, along with the mayor, voiced their opinion that the original church should be restored.
They declined the motion to annex the land on a four-to-one vote based on inadequate information regarding plans for the new site as well as plans for the
partially-damaged church. The council heard comments from citizens who
reported that the acreage on which the new church would be built is poor
ground for development. Drainage and sewer problems, as well as water lines
and electric service were all issues raised. Many citizens in attendance
said the council showed strong leadership and wise decision-making.
Back to Top
Where is the money coming from?
January 23, 1997, Stuart, Iowa - Many parishioners are still wondering why the tithe list, which had been published for years up to now to show all parishioners' annual tithing, has suddenly not been published this year, a year in which many parishioners have stopped tithing in protest. Even with many parishioners not tithing, miraculously, the tithing totals have remained at the same level in years past. Parishioners would be very interested to know how the tithing maintained itself - could it truly be a miracle or from where is the money coming?
Back to Top
Prayer in a Morton Building?
January 23, 1997, Stuart, Iowa - As many parishioners of All Saints have predicted, the new church may quite likely look like a Morton building. (Morton is a brand of metal building - a current favorite of farmers to replace wooden barns and of small-town retailers to replace brick buildings). At a recent parish council meeting - weakly attended as has been characteristic - the architect, Joe Lang with RDG, reportedly seriously asked the question as to whether the council would prefer metal or masonry for the church. This, to replace a rare limestone Byzantine structure. The forefathers of Stuart surely rolled over at the uttering of this question.
It is speculated that the Diocese will cut corners on the church in order to be able to afford the $475,000 land price (for ninety acres of not-so-good farmland) and to build the nonexistent infrastructure such as roads, sewer, water, land grading and the likes, or whatever else they may do with the insurance money.
Back to Top
Families Involved in Saving Church Taken Off Tithe Box List
January 14, 1997, Stuart, Iowa - When annual tithe boxes were distributed in December, some families prominent in the effort to save All Saints Church, noticed that there were no tithe boxes for them. An inside source reported that Father Richard Bergman, now retired from the parish, had taken those families off the list to receive tithe boxes, even though they are still members of the parish and attend mass regularly.
Back to Top
Survey shows parishioners want new church on same site
January 13, 1997, Stuart, Iowa - A recent survey of All Saints parishioners indicated that parishioners continue to want the church to be rebuilt on the same site as the remains of the partially burned church. Results were compiled by an independent auditor and showed that with 61% of parishioners responding, 64% of them want the church to be built on the same site, in the center of town.
The parish council, acting on what they believe to be the wants of the Diocese have voted to negotiate for 90 acres of land, including a house and shed outside of town for nearly $500,000. Their "vision" is to "control" the neighborhood around the new church and possibly sell lots for up scale housing or even provide land for a new public school even though the community recently rejected a bond issue to build a new public school.
Many people continue to believe the erroneous information first presented by parish leaders and the Diocese of Des Moines that rebuilding All Saints would cost over $7 million. Experts report that that figure is much exaggerated and that the church could be rebuilt using modern methods and materials for well under the insurance settlement of $3,900,000. The insurance money has now grown to well over $4,000,000.
Many parishioners wonder in silence what the agenda truly is for building a commune outside of town, though few have the courage to stand up for what is right. The parish council has reportedly been told on more than one occasion that when the new church is built, there would be no money left over from the insurance settlement.
Back to Top
Parish Priest Leads Jeers Against Parishioners
December 8, 1996, Stuart, Iowa - The Parish Priest of All Saints Catholic Church here led jeers against a number of parishioners during a meeting discussing whether to build a new church on an acreage outside of town, according to several parishioners in attendance. Parishioners report that Father Richard Bergman stood up at least twice during the meeting either to lead standing ovations in favor of comments regarding a new site for replacing the parish church which had been burned by an arsonist or to lead those in favor of a new site in jeers and cat calls against parishioners making statements in favor of partial or full restoration of their landmark church.
During the meeting a show of hands was requested for each side of the issue of whether to build on a new site or to seek some level of restoration. Roughly one-third of the total 300 parishioners attended the meeting. Nearly half of those in attendance did not raise their hands either way. No formal count of the show of hands was taken, yet the media were told and one TV station reported erroneously and without quoting a source that 72% of the parish favored a new site.
Many parishioners may have decided not to attend the meeting after Father Bergman announced at mass prior to the meeting that "ushers" would guard the door to ensure that only "parishioners" would be allowed to enter the annex which is temporarily serving as the parish church.
Back to Top
Here is Project Restore's proposal on how to restore All-Saints.
First, we'd bring in a crane to place a new metal frame inside the limestone walls. This frame will be the support for everything including the dome. The limestone blocks will be the exterior and we'll replace the blocks on the dome so that from the outside, the church will look like it did prior to the fire-- copper dome and all. The inside of the church will be new-- there would be no smoke smell left. Between the limestone walls and the drywall, which will be used for the interior walls, we will put insulation making heating and air conditioning the church an easier task. The interior will be new as far as furnishings, incorporating what we could from the old church. The stained-glass windows would stay in place and would be restored.
How much would this all cost? Start with the fact that the church is 8,000 square feet. Using a high-end construction cost per square foot to be safe, say $150, you get $1.2 million to put the building back with interior painting and exterior finishing. Then even if you allowed one million dollars for furnishings systems and artifacts, including artifact and window restoration, you have a total cost well under $2.5 million, leaving about $1.5 million from the insurance settlement for a benevolence fund. We can get these figures in writing -- guaranteed by the architects. Remember, the first figures provided the parish council by the diocese were for exact restoration using 1908 materials and methods with large cushions.
It can be done. Give us a chance. If we begin now, maybe we can have it done by Christmas Eve mass 1997. Give us a chance.
Back to Top
| Home | Latest News | Letters to the Editor | Newspaper Articles | Pictures | How to Help | E-Mail Us |
©1996-99 Project Restore, Stuart, IA USA. All Rights Reserved.
Web site designed by Scott Neader of Internet Solutions and hosted by QTH.com