The Chapel Bell Presented by the Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society, Inc. Volume 15, Issue No. 3 Summer, 2014
A New Major Chapel Initiative By Ken Bohl, Facilities Director
Consider this interesting discussion I had. I was talking to a historical restoration engineer, someone who managed major projects. The subject was a stunningly beautiful church in New Jersey. The church was originally built without a steeple, and a steeple was added later. The building began to fail structurally under the added weight, the steeple sinking down, and the walls spreading. Imagine what a major costly project it was to lift up the steeple, add additional support, and draw the walls back in. It cost hundreds of thousand of dollars and took six months. But it was successful. Then a couple months later they replaced the gutters, and decided to install historic copper gutters, which are soldered together on-site. Can you guess what’s next? By the time the fire department arrived, the church was completely engulfed in flames, and was a total loss.
Did that catch you by surprise? Well, that’s exactly the way it happens in real life. The last thing you expected, just when all seemed well. What if the next time you drove through downtown Lombard our beloved Chapel was gone? Can you even imagine not seeing it on that corner where it has stood for 144 years? What if it no longer stood as the beckoning landmark that holds our precious community history and personal memories? The thought of this scenario makes me heartsick.
The Chapel already has a state-of-the-art fire security system with 25 sensors throughout the building tied into a central panel that directly calls the fire department. But the sad reality remains . As quickly as the fire department could arrive for an alarm, if there was an active fire in progress, unless there were trapped people to be saved, it would be unsafe for them to even enter the Chapel. They would do the best they could fighting the fire from the outside, which would probably only succeed in preventing the fire from spreading to other buildings.
So what is the solution? To install a fire sprinkler system. One in which one or more sprinklers would be automatically triggered by heat to spray water directly on a fire. The top-notch Lombard Fire Department is still our best defense, but if there was to be a raging fire which kept them from entering the building, the sprinklers would become the primary fire fighter.
Rest assured that the image you have seen of a sprinkler system going crazy and all the sprinklers going off at once is strictly a Hollywood creation. Each sprinkler sprays, and shuts off individually, and only where a fire is detected.
Continued on Page 3
Page 1. Who are “Friends of the Maple Street Chapel Society?”
By Doris Schertz, Membership Vice President
All who support the Maple Street Chapel Society’s efforts to preserve Maple Street Chapel for future generations are “Friends of the Chapel.” This includes all those who offer their hands, hearts and resources, as in sweat equity and financial support.
Annual membership gifts at various levels of support, provide funds for ongoing expenses. Larger gifts can be earmarked for the Endowment Fund, where the money is invested for growth and the earnings provide funds for preservation of the Chapel in the future. Special gifts can be dedicated for outright purchases or repairs, and can be earmarked in memory or recognition of a person, event or commemorative time.
The Chapel Bell, our newsletter, comes out quarterly in the Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Through this venue, the Chapel Society board and committee members contribute articles that keep us informed of the Chapel’s issues, needs, maintenance and repairs, open houses and tours, concerts, programs and our new “Friends.” Once our editor has compiled all the news, needs, articles, photos of activities and lists of new “Friends,” The Chapel Bell is printed and mailed to all Donors, friends and participants.
We want EVERYONE who cares about Maple Street Chapel to read The Chapel Bell – your neighbors, your children, family who have moved out of town, Village businesses and more. With your gift at any level, please include the names and addresses of those you would like, added to our mailing list, okay?
Make your gift or check payable to: Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society, Inc. (MSCPS, Inc.) While we love to tell our Friends about other Friends, you can always request your name be withheld from the list by contacting Jeanie McCoy, Chapel Bell Editor at 630-627-2379. Page 2. The Fire Sprinkler Project (continued)
Our initial impressions of this project are: 1. There would be very little impact to the historic appearance of the building. There are easy passageways for the large pipes from basement to attic, so it’s unlikely any walls would have to be damaged. The only visible things would be the little sprinklers on the ceiling. These are much smaller than the existing smoke detector, so we probably would barely notice them. 2. At this point it is difficult to pin down an exact cost. We had an initial evaluation done and while there are many unknown costs, we feel that a realistic total cost would be $150,000. Yeah, that’s a lot! Being realistic, this is likely to be at least a 3-year fund-raising effort. We don’t want to wait until 2016 or 2017, but if we start saving now, at least we know that we are working towards that day.
This is such an important project to ensure the ongoing preservation of our historic treasure. So please see the enclosed donation sheet. As we did with the roofing project, we have designated giving levels, but anything you can spare would be appreciated to make this preservation effort a reality.
You can mail the enclosed donation page with your check to Maple Street Chapel 220 S Main St Lombard IL 60148 or if you would like to pay with a credit card or PayPal, go to the web site www.MapleStreetChapel.Org . However you make your contribution, a receipt for tax deduction purposes will be mailed to you.
Upon completion of this project, a plaque will be created in appreciation of all donors (unless you wish to not be listed).
Let’s work together to ensure that this never happens to the Maple Street Chapel!
Page 3. Gifting Opportunities
We are going to make this a regular feature in most issues of the Chapel Bell. This is not a fund-raising effort. We tell you when we are in a financial bind, but we don’t want to constantly be asking you for more. We receive numerous cash gifts, whether it’s a memorial for a loved one, a tax refund, or a special event. This feature presents to you options for assigning a gift to a specific use you would especially be happy to know you facilitated. We are, of course, raising funds for the fire sprinkler system. But if you prefer to fund a smaller project completely yourself, here are some options:
Chair/Furniture Restoration: Portable podium: $350 Five ornate Bavarian chairs at the front of the sanctuary: $100 each Four wood chairs around the table in the Reade Room: $200 each
Podium falling apart 5 Bavarian chairs in pretty good shape. It needs refinishing. They just need preventative maintenance for details which have come loose
4 chairs have loose joints, need refinishing
Page 4 Sunday School Children Tour the Chapel
In the photo, Mrs. Betty Meyer is shown counting the sides Of the octagon table, the Church’s first pulpit.
On Sundays in April, the First Church of Lombard Sunday School classes took a tour of the Maple Street Chapel. The children learned about its special features, its steeple and bell, calico windows, pews, altar, and board and batten siding, the history of the Chapel and its historical significance to the Village of Lombard’s Library and the contributions of early Chapel members.
The Chapel was Lombard’s first public library originated with Josiah Reade’s personal library which he donated to the Chapel. Lombard’s current Helen Plum Library resides on the site of Colonel William Plum’s and Mrs. Helen Plum’s former home and its extensive Lilac Gardens is now Lilacia Park.
Many of the children were hoping to bring their parents to tour this historic building, the very first church in Lombard and the site of the first library in Northern Illinois. If you have a group that would like to tour this famous Lombard landmark, call 630-627-0171 to make arrangements. Page 5. DOCENT'S VOICE Joann Richardson, Docent Director
"Welcome to the Maple Street Chapel"
Carol VonHolst replied to our request in the Spring Docent's Voice for recognizing names of people who were married in the Chapel. Carol's daughters were married in The Chapel on the following dates:
February 29, 1979 Vickie & Manney Mosa September 22, 1980 Valerie & Charles Langeein
Carol shared the excitement of her younger son had ringing the Chapel bell at the weddings. Please visit an open house and share the excitement the boys enjoyed and you too, can ring the bell. Share your wedding date.
Trivia question: How tall is the steeple reaching to the sky?
Last month’s trivia question answered by Ken Bohl: "Calico" is the name that has been used for the Chapel's windows since as long as anyone can remember. However, the word is not used for stained glass in any reference to be found. Technically, the windows are "grisaille" windows. See the "Lombard Ken and the Chapel of Good" article on this.
Docent Chapel Tour Calendar Third Sunday of each month, 2:00 TO 4:00 August 17, 2014 September 21, 2014 October 19, 2014 Closed November 2014 trough February 2015 Groups tours welcome, call to schedule a date at 630-627-0171
Docent Committee Joann Richardson, Docent Chairperson
Barbara Barta Claire Loudon Tom Scott Ken Bohl Betty Meyer Doris Schertz Jan Kreichelt Marlene Peas lee Lynda Wilson
We invite you to join us in this endeavor. If you are interested in being trained as a Docent, call 630-627-0171.
Page 6 Meet More Friends of The Maple Street Chapel*
Basic Membership Bell Ringer Ken & Linda Bohl Bruce & Marion Dillingham Ken & Patty Bruzek Thomas &* Christine Kelly Charles & Pamela LeFleur Joanne Munsterman Mary Gower Marlene Peaslee Jeanne Koring Wroan Robert Palm * Yearly donations. Glen & Muriel Seegers Memorials For Robert Els: For: Jane Morrison Jeanie McCoy Jeanie McCoy For Paul Davis: For: Jack Peaslee: Tina Ebbeskotte Charles & Jan Kreichelt Jeanie McCoy Bonnie McCoy For Art Kanatz: Jeanie McCoy Dr. Paul Arndt Thomas Scott For: Jane Morrison For Shirley Scott Jeanie McCoy Kevin & Marianne McGuire For: Dr. Carol Meyer For Tom Surge: Paul Belden Jan McKeown Howard Lagerquist For Claudia & Leah Vidmer: Richard & Joy Zimmerman Robert Vidmer
In Honor Of: Morgan Meyer, M.D., author of “Memories of Medicine, Marriage, Family, and Lombard “ From: Anonymous, Dr. Jack Livermore Barbara Barta Jeff Long June Bunza Jeanie McCoy Laurel Christopherson Marlyn & Betty Meyer Margaret Darr Joanne Munsterman Harold Dennis George & Arlene Nason Chris &Jeanette Erb Marilyn Plinske Robert Gay Dr. John Picchietti David & Lorinda Ivey Paul & Judith Reinking Tom & Kathy James Christine Robinson Don Jares Charles & Joann Richardson Julie Johnson David & Doris Schertz Kevin Lattner Linda Sostak Jeanne Law Dorothy Weigand
Page 7.
LHS Museum News
www.lombardhistory.org
Summer/Fall Hours
PECKAPALOOZA! A Celebration 175 Years in the Making Carriage House/Victorian Cottage: When Sheldon Peck began building his home on the frontier The Carriage House & Victorian in 1837, it is doubtful that he imagined that his simple Cottage are open Wednesdays, clapboard house would still be standing 175 years later, or Fridays, and Sundays from 1- that it would have been turned into a museum devoted to his 4pm life and work. Archive Hours: (Stranger still would be its designation as a National Park Tuesday & Thursday, 10am-3pm Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site – by appointment (630-629-1885). advertising such a fact in the mid-1800s would not have been wise!) Sheldon Peck Homestead: The Peck is open Tuesdays, We are so lucky to have the Homestead here in Lombard and Thursdays, and Sundays from 1- to be able to share the remarkable life of Sheldon Peck – and 4pm. his entire family – which the thousands of students and visitors who come through its doors every year. For more information, please see This year we’re honoring the home’s 175th anniversary with a www.lombardhistory.org or call weekend-long celebration, and we hope you’ll come out and us at 630-629-1885. celebrate with us. It’ll be a family-friendly weekend that Sheldon would have surely enjoyed! Schedule of Events for Tickets for Saturday’s pig roast include a heaping pulled pork Peckapalooza! sandwich, loaded potatoes (meatless option available), coleslaw, chips and salsa, dessert, and one drink (pop, water Saturday, August 23 or beer). Additional drinks available for purchase. At the Victorian Cottage Advance ticket purchase: 1:00 – 4:00 Pig Roast $35/adults, $15/youth (LHS Members) 12:00 – 5:00 Plank Road Music $40/adults, $17/youth (non-members) 12:00 – 5:00 Kids games, face painting At the door ticket purchase: 12:00 – 4:30 Raffle $45/adults, $17 youth At the Peck Homestead You can purchase tickets by calling 630-629-1885 or emailing 12:00 – 4:00 Tours [email protected] Hope to see you there! 12:00 – 4:00 Kids games a free shuttle will be available to Also, join us on Sunday, August 24 for Sheldon’s Speakers take you between sites Series at the Peck House: 1:00 Sheldon Peck and Folk Art speaker, 2:30 Pioneer School Teacher first person interpretation. No advanced registration is necessary for the speakers events. What Type of Windows are They?
The Chapel’s stained glass windows have long been referred to as “calico” windows. This term piqued the curiosity of a newer Board member Melissa Dagenhart. Despite her additional extensive research (mine done a few years ago), as of yet, we cannot find any non-anecdotal reference to this term. Botti Studio of Architectural Arts, in Evanston, IL, the company that restored our windows in 1992, has not heard this term either. (Botti Studio has been in America since 1864, and their roots go back to 16th century in Italy.) Perhaps an early church member coined the “calico” name because the black stenciled pattern is akin to the printed patterns of calico cloth. Maybe it is simply a local, antiquated term that was used for a time and has passed down with oral tradition.
So while we cannot definitively answer if the term “calico window” is accurate, Melissa’s research did discover the correct terminology. Our “calico windows” are really what’s known as grisaille windows. This may not be news for some of you, but for several of us it is. There are a few mentions of “grisaille windows” among the Chapel’s archive materials. The following was found on an undated, unsigned piece of paper.
“Calico windows” were installed in churches temporarily, until the congregation could afford stained glass. Because of the Civil War and the great Chicago fire, these temporary windows were never replaced. “Calico” means a reference to cloth. The formal name, “grisaille”, is a form of decorative painting in tones of grey, widely used for decorative panels in the late 18th century.” Page 9 A grisaille window is comprised of a delicate pattern painted on clear glass with thin grey or black lines, and the re-fired. Grisaille patterns in the nineteenth century were most commonly achieved through the use of tin stencils. It is believed that the early congregation intended to replace these grisaille windows when they raised the money or when memorials were donated to do so. This practice of replacing grisaille windows explains why they are so rare today. However, some people, particularly the glass artisans of the time, saw these windows as an aesthetically preferable and much less expensive alternative to more traditional stained glass windows.
Regardless of what you call them, they are a legitimate art form, an authentic type of stained glass, and they are priceless to us and we wouldn’t dream of replacing them. Editor’s Note: The “Lombard Ken” article is a parody on the Harrison Ford movie, “Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom”. ********************************************************************************************
The Chapel Bell is a newsletter presented by the Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society, Inc., published quarterly in Lombard, Illinois 60148.
*Contact personnel @ 630-627-0171 Tom Scott, President Melissa Dagenhardt, Admin. Assist. Ken Bohl, 1st Vice President, and and Folk Concert Assistant Facilities Director, and Producer of Sharon Jurgensen, “Friends Variety Concerts series Committee” Secretary Doris Schertz 2nd Vice President Kevin Lattner, Grounds Manager Membership/Grants Director Joann Richardson, Docent Director Charles Kreichelt, Treasurer Vicki Webb, Concert Assistant Claire Loudon, Secretary Paul Zimmerman, Producer, Dr. Paul Arndt, Financial Folk Concert Series Management Director Jeanie McCoy, Newsletter Director
Chapel Bell Editor and Publisher: Jeanie S. McCoy 630-627-2379 Page 10
Here’s Your Invitation to Join the Milestone Celebration By Melissa Dagenhart, Folk Concert Publicist
The countdown is underway to our 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Folk Concerts on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 4:00 PM at Maple Street Chapel.
Get your tickets in advance for $30 and save $5 ($35 at the door if any remain; premium seating is sold out). Use your credit card online at folk.maplestreetchapel.org, or use the mail order form also found there. Call or email with any questions: [email protected] or 630-627-0171.
The Talent Mark Dvorak Trio - Chicago’s own tireless troubadour has a refreshing, down-to- earth stage presence and penchant for sing-alongs.
Kate MacLeod & Andrew Calhoun - She is a highly acclaimed songstress, and a sought after vocalist, fiddler, and guitar player. He is a veteran singer-songwriter who adds brilliant, poetic original songs to his vast traditional catalog.
Eric Lambert & Friends - This group is gaining notoriety for their interactive, improvisational music and high energy performances with quality, original rockin' Americana Stringband music.
Harpeth Rising - This female trio fuses folk, “newgrass,” rock, and classical into an organically unique sound while showcasing expansive three-part harmonies.
Lee Murdock – Well known for his Great Lakes songs, he combines elements of ragtime, Irish, blues, and folk with his flair for storytelling through song.
Dan Zahn & Kate Moretti – Founders of the Lake County Folk Festival, Dan & Kate have perform as a duo throughout the Midwest playing traditional folk, blues, country swing, jazz, and originals.
Andina & Rich - Recipe: mix Sandy Andina (Chicago's resident singing/guitar- and-dulcimer-slinging smart aleck) with Stephen Lee Rich (Madison, WI's friendly neighborhood yodeling cowboy), add harmony and humor, then shake and stir.
Bill & Kate Isles - Consummate performers, these genuine “next-door” folks are known for their catchy melodies and Midwestern charm.
Tangleweed - An acoustic power trio, they play original and traditional bluegrass, Americana, folk, Celtic, and much more.
David Hawkins – This singer-songwriter’s songs are both tough and gentle, distilled in a place where flesh and spirit meet and where one’s soul is on the line. Page 11. Join the Friends of the Maple Street Chapel Society Today!
Please check the box below to direct your enclosed donation. Please make your check payable to the Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society, Inc.
Friends of the Maple Street Chapel. Annual memberships. Money is used for ongoing Chapel expenses. Endowment Fund. Money is invested and earnings provide for preservation of the Chapel Special Gifts. Specifically for ______
Basic “Friends’” Membership $25 - $99 Board & Batten Society $3,000 - $4,999 Bell Ringer $100 - $499 Colonel Plum’s Partners $5,000 - $9,999 Chapel Steward $500 - $999 The Reade Circle $10,000 - $24,999 Steeple Club $1,000 - $2,999 Pinnacle Society $25,000 +
NAME ______ADDRESS ______
Detach and return to: Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society, Inc. 220 South Main Street, Lombard, Illinois 60148
Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society 220 So. Main Street Lombard, Illinois 60148