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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. |
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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.)
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
See a picture of the Wall of Flowers
See a picture of the Wall of Flowers
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
