Protecting the windows of Sacred Heart Church

A Fargo, N.D. company called Classic Glass has been hired by Sacred Heart Church in Du Quoin to replace the protective panels that cover the hand-painted scenes on the leaded glass in this historic church.

Restorer Hans Grafstrom explained that between three and five men have been working for the past two and a half weeks on the restoration of the window frames. "We took a break for Mother's Day and came back Monday."

He said the 20 windows being protected are marked 1927 and were created by master painters in Munich, Germany. That work is no longer available and only one man, in his 80s, and his son work in a London studio to fully restore any similar panels that are shipped to them. "No one does this kind of work," said Grafstrom. The windows are hand-painted on the inside. Old protective panels have been pulled away. The exterior glass is cleaned and buffed. The original window casings are being scraped, primed and painted. The casing are then getting aluminum facia. The new panels are strengthened by cross members.

The work could be finished by the weekend.