Making the windows shine like they did in 1901
If all goes as planned, members of United Methodist Church of Antioch will see things more clearly by this time next year.
Little by little and as funds allow, the 106-year-old stained glass windows are being restored at the Main Street church.
"This has been an ongoing need and something we finally decided needed to be done," said Barbara Gesselman, church secretary.
Conrad Schmitt Studios in New Berlin, Wis., is doing the restoration and has been working on the church's windows since July.
On Thursday, workers began replacing eight window panels on the church's east side.
"People have been going up and seeing the work in process and we've been very impressed," Gesselman said. "They are beautiful windows."
During the restoration process, the Lexon storm windows have remained in place. They are being replaced with glass this week, Gesselman said.
Gesselman said the project is costing well over $100,000. About half of the money has been collected. The church is in the process of raising the rest.
A few of the windows replaced Thursday include a large panel depicting Jesus knocking on a door and an arch featuring the American flag.
Restoration of that panel was a gift from the Veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Another window slated for restoration is a large panel on the south side of the building depicting Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.
"When the sun comes through in the morning, it really is gorgeous," Gesselman said.
The last time the stained glass received maintenance was in 1979 by a company in Minnesota, she added.
Because this project requires the windows to be removed, the church wanted to find something closer to home, which is where Conrad Schmitt Studios comes in.
Howard Haas, project manager, said the biggest problem, besides oxidizing lead, was the paint on the windows was failing.
"Images were actually disappearing," Haas said. "We did some investigating with old historic photographs and tried to bring those images back as true to form as possible."
Crews took three more windows back to Wisconsin with them Friday. The church has a total of 33 windows that need to be restored.
"It is an ongoing process," Haas said. "We have been pretty conservative in the way we are restoring them and took our time. I think these people will be extremely happy with the results."