Unbelievable!
Photo from The SunThe storm last night was truly stunning. I don't know anyone in Hampden who wasn't awaken by it. The thunder was some of the loudest I've ever heard--and Hawker is from the midwest.
There was also a tragic consequence, and you could smell the smoke all morning.
The Mount Vernon United Methodist Church at 33rd and Chestnut burned to the ground. Damages of the three-alarm fire are estimated at 5.5 million! Details here in The Sun. WJZ has video and more images here. The church building was built in 1878 according to The Sun, in the 1850's according to WJZ.
Thankfully, no one was injured. More than thirty homes were evacuated as a precaution, however.
Hawker is deeply, deeply sorry for all of the parishioners and for Hampden's loss of this historic building.
posted by Plantastic @ 5:11 PM
6 Comments:
my friend on Chestnut got a video of the blaze just as the first firetrucks got there
Wasn't this the same church/congregation that ran anti-gay billboards in the neighborhood a few years back?
I remember the anti-gay billboards were at Hampden United Methodist Church on Falls across from the park.
The two churches are related. But regardless of their opinion on gays (or whatever else), this is really a huge loss for everyone in the neighborhood. This was a beautiful old church. If you've ever been inside, the wood floors, pews, moldings, etc were amazing.
I attended a couple of events there over the years, but never attended services there, so I never got to see beyond the sanctuary and the entrance room.
Such a huge loss. I really hope that they have the funds (and desire) to restore the building once their insurance company gets involved.
Well, if this is/was an institution of intolerance and hate, its loss is also a gain for the neighborhood which has enough problems with intolerance as it is.
The architectural loss notwithstanding.
Lightning hit our house (or awfully close) around 5 AM. Scared the heck out of us, and it blew our cable modem. Definitely some of the loudest thunder and brightest lightning I've seen in a while...
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