Sept 16: Janis Gray, Chair of the Unitarian Universalist Society's
Stained Glass Committee. she will talk about the Tiffany "Angel of the
Lilies": stained glass window. The Amherst Club Luncheon of September 16, 2014
President, Roger Webb
Jean Miller and Arthur Kinney agreed to take care of
hospitality cards to members.
Guests: Billie
Callahan the mother-in-law of our speaker
Alison Wohler from the UUSA
Announcements:
Lois Barber won 1st place at the Storyslam at
Hinges in Northampton. The finals will
be held at the Academy of Music on April 18th, 2015
Phyllis Lehrer, as the 1st Vice President for the
League of Women Voters, announced a talk by Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse on
“Building Communities”. It will be held
on Sept. 17 at 7:00 PM.
Claude Tellier needs luncheon speaker suggestions.
Vivienne Carey announced the Amherst Block Party on
Thursday, Sept 18.
Paul Bacon encouraged the Club to find new members.
Nancy Brose is sending names to “Amherst Live” to consider
as speakers.
Janis Gray spoke to us about the Tiffany Stained glass
window restoration at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst on North
Pleasant Street. She called her talk
“The Journey of the Wandering Angel
c.1889-2014.” She shared her research on the people who commissioned
“The Angel of the Lilies”, its journey to Amherst from Roxbury, its
construction, its restoration.
Interesting points included the following:
1)
The window has 3 layers of plated stained glass
with air spaces between.
2)
It was designed to be viewed from inside and lit
from sunlight.
3)
100% lead
holds all the panes together and since the lead-strengthening silver had been
removed from the material used, it would last only 100 years.
4)
Soot, seeds and soil between the layers were
destroying the window.
5)
The window was sent to Schenectady for
restoration, releading, etc.
6)
The Amherst Historical Commission and the
Community Preservation Act gave $106,000 toward the $119,225 needed for the
restoration. Another $26,000 for new
frames and LED lites was raised. It is now nicely lighted when seen from the
street.
7)
The window is protected by double paned thermal
glass.
A ribbon cutting celebration will
be held on Oct. 1 from 2-6. They are
looking at ways to have the building open at regular times for visitors. A
lovely brochure called “Amherst’s Stained Glass Treasure” is available that
tells a detailed story of the window.
Susie Lowenstein won the wine.
Jim Scott won the $10
Joan Hanson, Scribe
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