Date: Fri 14-May-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

architectural-elements-Easton

Full Text:

Architectural Elements Of 19th Century Church At Scotty's

(with 3 cuts)

By Rita Easton

DAVENPORT, IOWA -- An on-site auction was held at the Third Missionary Baptist

Church on April 17, auctioneered by Scotty's Auctions. The once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity to purchase the best in church furnishings and particularly

stained glass windows drew 300 attendees, many of them out-of-towners.

The church builders broke ground in 1882 when the population of Davenport was

21,000. It began as St Paul's, with a Lutheran congregation. Only the best

materials were used, worked by the best craftsmen. It took 20 years to

complete and install the crowning glory of the chapel: the stained, textured

and painted vintage glass windows, created by H. M. Hooker of Chicago.

Fourteen skilled craftsmen took three months each to measure, cut and assemble

the jewel-like windows in the Hooker facility. In the 1960s the church became

Baptist.

"It is possible if these windows were made in a studio with historical cachet

they may be very valuable, practically irreplaceable today," an experienced

consultant has stated.

Fetching the highest bid of the auction, "The Good Shepherd," a 120-inch-wide,

216-inch-high stained glass window was purchased by a New Hampshire church at

$11,000.

A builder won the once daring "Martin Luther" window, which originally

received equal billing with "The Good Shepherd" in the same size and colors,

purchasing it for $9,500; and bringing $2,500 each were four windows depicting

the apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, all going to a Lutheran church, and

a fifth depicting Christ, also reaching $2,500, each window measuring 25

inches wide by 67 inches high, crowned with a Gothic peak.

"To take out these windows," said Jean McFedries of the auction house, "it

will cost these buyers $5,000. Shipping will be about $4,500 for each window,

and then the purchaser has to have them reinstalled, so there's another $5,000

or so. People don't always realize the expense connected with these windows in

addition to the purchase price."

Approximately 50 pews ranged from $325 to $130; an Atlanta buyer purchased 21

by 43 feet of fir flooring at $1,200; and doors, cabinets, and casings sold to

buyers within a 500 mile radius.

Several stained glass windows in need of repair were snapped up at $1,150

each, and oak banisters without risers made $800.

Scotty's Auction does not charge a buyer's premium.