The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-22
CITY CHURCHES
WERE HARD HIT
Nearly Every House Of Worship
Has a Heavy Repair
Bill.

The First Presbyterian church, at
Portland and Nineteenth, which had
just been freed from debt ana feIui
nished at cost of $4,000, was sefi-
ously damaged The shapely steeple
crashed into the street and the stone
work underneath broke thru the gal
lery and auditorium f1oorsSto the base
ment The historic church bell, the
first rung in the city, is buried be-
meath the debris. The steeple walls
show weakness, and it is consldefed
fortunate that a disaster which had
been feared by some, happened when
the auditorium was empty. Inc re-
pairs will cost heavily, altho the
steeple will be replaced with only a
capped tower Part of the roof when
remains will have to be removed, as
the roof trusses are much damaged.
Nineteenth street is completely
blocked by the heavy framework. Ihe
wind deposited long heavy stone on
the end of slight suspended board,
where the slightest touch would nave
knocked it off.
The sheetiron& cornice on the front
gable of Westminster church was
neatly removed and carried to the
street side of the church wheresit was
laid carefully around the trunk Of a
! young tree. The tree was not in
jured and there is no evidence of
damage to the church where the iron
was carried around. The tendency OF
| the wind in various places was to roll
! the sheets Of iron in neat bundles,
| but here the cornicecap retained it's
shape. Part of the stone battlement
was driven thru the west roof, crash
ing down into the basement and spllnt-
ering timbers and seats. The sunday
| services could not be held in the main
auditorium on account of. the debris,
! the chapel being used instead. Inc
contractor called in for inspection OF
the church says the repairs will cost
$4,000 and that they will take SIX
weeks or two months
1t was a sad band of church mem
bers that gathered yesterday morn
ing around Rev. John Dolphin, pastor
of the st. Stephens Catholic church,
Clinton avenue and Twenty third
street, while he read the mass be-
meath spreading tree in the church
yard. The building itself was so bad
ly wrecked that Father Dolphin re-
fused to permit his parishioners to
enter for fear that they might be in
iured, 50 he gathered them about him
in the churchyard and in their behalf
returned thanks for their being spared
worse disaster than had befaller
i them While the church is badly dam
aged, it will not entail large expend-
iture to put it in order once again
the auditorium was drenched.
At the Church of the Redeemel
two memorial windows were shattered
and the main auditorium was flooded
by the storm which swept thru the
chamber from one side to the other
Half the tower of Emmanuel Danish
Lutheran church, Twenty-secone
street and Twenty-eighth avenue S
was cut off. The structure was bad
ly wrenched and the decorations
heavily damaged by water.
l The Park Avenue Congregations
church, 2002 Park avenue, suffered 1T
share of the general loss and disaster
and a large ornamental window wa
completely wrecked. The wind ha
0 fair chance at the window and tn
: shattered beneath the pressure.
Y Lightning struck and damaged tn
steeple of the Fowler M. e. churcf
/ Franklin and Dupont, avenues. III
e slate shingles of the, steeple Wer
l scattered about the churchyard, bu
fortunately the building did not tax
fire. The loss is slight.
: Oliver Presbyterian church, Bloom
: ington avenue and Twenty-sevent
il street, was also hit by lightning ant
: as consequence, the steeple We
d damaged. The building did not cate
t. fire. :,
The roof Of the Swedish Bapt
church, Thirteenth avenue and Elghl
: street S, was seriously damaged by
IS falling chimney. The debris role
II from the roof to the ground and sha
So tered the stone sidewalk :.
a. The Bethesda, Colored Baptl
church, Eighth street and Eleven1