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Vandalism turned into saving grace for church
Eric Heyl is a Tribune-Review staff writer. He can be reached via e-mail or 412-320-7857.
Five weeks later, it's not so hard.
King, 29, is executive director of the Union Project.
Since August 2001, the nonprofit organization has been renovating the former Union Baptist Church in Highland Park. The project aims to turn the building into a community and arts center -- complete with a gallery, performance area, art studios, office space and a coffee shop.
The challenge of renovating a building without plumbing, heating, electricity or a roof was formidable from the start. It became even greater over the Memorial Day weekend.
Vandals entered the old church, at the corner of Negley and Stanton avenues, intent on destroying more than the Union Project's restoration work. They apparently intended to destroy the entire century-old structure.
"I wouldn't have wished what happened on my worst enemy," King said.
Whoever broke into the church wanted to administer a ravaging. The vandals succeeded.
About 25 windows were shattered, leaving broken glass throughout the building. The original woodwork and spindles of an ornate staircase banister were damaged beyond repair.
Dishes that were to be sold as part of a money-raiser were smashed. Lights were broken, bathroom fixtures were ripped out of their settings, walls were littered with graffiti.
More than a dozen small fires were set near a pair of glass jars containing flammable chemicals, nails and pieces of glass. Thankfully, the crude explosives failed to ignite. The fires set on a couch, pillow, tabletop and other areas burned themselves out.
"We were very fortunate," King said. "As old as the building is, the place should have gone up like a torch. And while they broke a lot of regular windows, the stained-glass windows weren't touched."
The who and the why of this destructive equation remain unknown. King doesn't believe anyone has a vendetta against her group, composed of individuals from local religious, arts and community organizations.
"I think it was random," she said. "Every feeling I have is that someone was targeting a church, and it just turned out to be this church."
The building has been targeted since -- this time by neighbors who pitched in to clean up the damage.
A recent call for volunteers drew more than 50 people. They filled a large Dumpster with ruined material. Some stayed later to plant flowers and to install exterior lighting and new locks on the doors that had been broken into.
"The community always has been receptive, but the vandalism really helped us with our fund-raising appeals and with getting volunteers," King said. "It made us realize that we can get more people involved in this community reinvestment than we first thought."
Despite their best efforts to cause maximum destruction, the clumsy vandals who nearly dashed a dream only succeeded in furthering it.
"I'd never want to go through something like this again, but it's turned out to be a blessing in disguise," King said.
Nameless, faceless criminals did King and her cohorts an unintended favor.
Here's hoping they never do them another.
