Feb 25 2008
Found: A 160 Year Old Wall with Stained Glass Windows
I was flabbergasted by an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution this morning about a treasure find of huge proportions - An entire, 160 year old wall with stained glass windows intact.
A contractor working on a 1840’s-era church was removing some dated, 1970’s drywall and wainscotting when he discovered the original interior walls which were thought to be long gone. They even retained their original color paint - pale yellow. Local historians believed that nothing inside the building had been preserved from its original grandure and they were planning on restoring the Methodist church in an effort to recapture the original sense of community that the church provided in its hay-day.
As years passed the church saw updates and was on the verge of being demolished four years ago for a new strip mall. But Janis Hill, the oldest living member of the church, fought to save it. After two years of battling with developers it was agreed that the church would be re-located and full restoration could begin.
The wall that was found features tongue-and-groove boards and are so evenly cut and placed that the separation between them is as fine as a pencil line. Square nails were also discovered in the area, and the walls were made from heart of pine.
Check out the full article at The Atlanta Journal-Constituion, which includes a colorful photo gallery.
And try not to think about the grounds this church sat on being paved over for a strip mall.
