The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-28
MORE DEFECTIVE
. CHURCH SIEEPLES
Spires OF Three Additional Edi-
fees Condemned by,
Inspector.
PARk PLACE IN GOOD ORDER
Broad Street Methodist in Worst
Condition-Spires to Be
Removed.
Park PLACE IN GOOD ORDER

Spires of st. Mary's Catholic Churoh,
ut Third and Marshall Streets of ST
Joseph's Catholic Church, colored, on
North First street. and OF Ebenezer
Baptist Church, colored, at Leigh and
Judah Streets. were found to be in un-
safe condition by Deputy Building In
spector Phillips yesterday. and orders
were issued by Building Inspector Beck
u Tor their removal.
The sDire of st. Johns German Evan
gelical Church, at Eighth and Marshall
streets, was examined and found to
/ require some repairs, but not to be
IN dangerous condition. The spire of
Park Place Methodist Church, at Pine
and Franklin Streets. was found to be
in perfect order, all OF dressed heart
timber without flaw. The inspection
viii continue until every wooden spire
In the city has been critically exam
ined.
VIII Take No Harsh Measures.
In View OF the uses to which the
] church buildings arc put, Building In
spector Beck says he does not wish to
take extreme measures. and in each
case he is merely notifying the chair
men OF the boards OF officers SO that
i the changes can he made without fur
ther official action. Unless the notices
are ignored. there Will be no court
| proceedings.
In the case of Broad Stree, Methodist
Church, the spire is held TO be in
dangerous condition. the woodwork
rotten from the base up, and many OF
| the supports out of place: also
| that the steeple rocks nouceably IN
even moderate wind. Immediate
steps should be taken. 1t is said. to
brace the steeple with scaGolding.
pending It's removal. l. 4. Christian.
called a meeting to consider plans for
| immediate alterations.
| Services will be held as usual to-
morrow in Broad Street Church, as
| the situation is not regarded as imme-
diately dangerous unless in a high
| wind.
Churches May De Used.
| In the cases of the First Presbyte-
rian Church and the Seventh street
Christian Church, where the steeples
| have been condeuned and ordered re-
moved, their condition IS regarded
I by no means SO dangerous. 1t is prob
| able that the use of the church build
ings, pending repairs. will not be inter-
fered with. H. w. Wood, president of
the board of deasons OF the First Pres
brterian Church, and r. NJ Hundley,
| chairman OF the official board of Sew
! enth Street Christian Church, have
i notified Mr.. Beck that they have called
/ meetings to take UP the matter at once.
The spires viii probably be removed
| as soon as plans can be drawn for
! harmoniz!ng the architectural appear
ance OF the fronts OF the buildings, as
| In neither case Is 1t anticipated that
the spires VIII be rebuilt OF freproof
| material because the cost involved
and to the probability OF both churches
eventually moving westward.
| The Highest is the Best
The highest sp!re In the city--that
Of the Grace street Presbyterian
Church-has been found TO be in ex-
cellent order and the inspectors ex-
press the highest approval OF the class
of workmanship found in the spire OF
Park Place Methodist Church. where
everything is IN hrst-class order. The
repairs needed at st. Johns German
| Evangelical Church will not. IT IS be-
| lieved. be expensive. nor will they con-
nict with the building code require
ments as to wooden steeples.
|, Ebenezer Baptist Churcn, colored is
now undergoing extensive repairs. and
Its officers. when shown samples of
supporting beams of the spire assured
the inspectors that the architects
would begin at once on plans for a
the present spire.
| In the case of the two Catholic
Churches examined yesterday-St.
Mary's. at Third and Marshall, and st.
Joseph's, for colored people, on North
! First Street.-The spires are not tall.
and are perhaps not in absolutely dan
| gerous condition. To make the repairs
that would be required. however, would
inecessitate the tearing of the present
work all to pieces. replacing a large
number of beams-work that would
probably be both expensive and in
violation OF the building code require
mont as to fireproof church spire con-
| struction.
/ Expects to Move shortly.
Father Edwards. OF st. Mary's. asked
whether that steeple would not stand
time the church would probably be
moved to the neighborhood OF the
| Benedictinc College. in the West End.
! When shown specimens of worme eaten
| timber broken from the supporting
beams he agreed 1t would be neces-
| sary to remove the spire at once.
| The inspectors have not yet made
n report on the condition of Trinity
Methodist spire. which has been partly
examined Much of the woodwork in
Broad Street Methodist Church spire
was found to be very deceptive. having
rotted from the centre toward the out
side, a sharp blow from a Ratchet In
some instances driving the blade three
inches into worm eaten wood, where
| the outside looked sound and firm.
| The examination showed in the case
Of the First Presbyterian Church
! steeple that aside from the character
of It's timbers. the spire itself was
since there is little or no evidence of
settling, 1t must have been so since 1t
was built by the city when 1t was
moved under the agreement which Sc
cured for the municipality the site for
the City Hall.