The color of labor evident at Bloomington window project

BLOOMINGTON -- Among those who enjoyed a break as the nation celebrated Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 6, were workers who have spent the heat of summer removing and restoring dozens of stained glass windows at Holy Trinity Church here.

“They look beautiful,” said Deacon Bob Hermes of the windows that have already been cleaned and repaired in the continuing project. “There’s much more light in the church and it’s beautiful when the sunlight hits them.”

But when the workers from Jacksonville Art Glass return after Labor Day, the nearly half-million dollar project will take on even loftier aspirations. A tall crane has arrived at the church and workers are scheduled to begin the reinstallation of eight 20-foot tall windows high on the church’s 140-foot tower, a downtown Bloomington landmark.

The window restoration is part of a $2.4 million project to repair the exterior of Holy Trinity Church, including a new roof, tuck pointing, and the replacement of about 40,000 bricks. The church, built in 1933 in the art deco style, is on the National Register of Historic Buildings.

The window project also includes new storm window protection, said Deacon Hermes. It has been accomplished in steps over the last several years, with most of the work done this spring and summer.

Meanwhile, the U.S. bishops issued their annual statement for Labor Day. The statement lauds the dignity of the worker and mourns persistent U.S. joblessness as "a pervasive failure of our economy."

The full text of the statement, "A New 'Social Contract' or Today's 'New Things," is available online at www.usccb.org.

More photos from the Bloomington project can be viewed on the Post Photos site. Click the camera icon at left.