Campaign begins to restore stained glass windows

Date: 10/10/2014

HOLYOKE – City officials have begun a campaign to raise between $ 400,000 and $500,000 to repair and restore the signature stained glass windows that line the walls of the City Hall auditorium.

Mayor Alex Morse announced on Oct. 7 that former Mayor Elaine Pluta and former City Councilor Ray Feyre would co-chair the effort. While in office, Pluta started the discussion about the stained glass windows.
   
The building was completed in 1876 and the auditorium has 13 stained glass windows.
   
Morse explained that two of the windows have been removed and are Serpentino Studios in Needham for repair. So far, the restoration is being funded by $50,000 from the Holyoke Library endowment and a $65,000 Massachusetts History Grant.   
   
Morse is hoping that two events will help spur the public and businesses in contributing to the cause: the removal and start of restoration of the first two windows and how the windows will appear after the work is completed.
   
“I think it’s a noble campaign,” he said.
   
Repairing the windows has been a priority of his administration, he added.
   
The Holyoke Chamber of Commerce’s foundation will be the vehicle through which contributions can be made he said.
   
Morse said a fundraising video would be produced and added, “We are exploring the different ways to reach out to the public.”
   
He said that he would be asking the City Council to approve a contribution to the effort as so far the city has not expended any funds toward it.
   
Morse sees a timeline that would include the retrain of installation of the first two repaired windows in early 2015 with a “realistic goal” of the funding being raised by the end of next year with the restoration completed in 2016.
   
Morse remarked that many visitors to City Hall speak about its design and are impressed with the second floor auditorium. His administration has written a rental policy for the space and he hopes to see it used more.
   
The issue of repairing the windows brings forth a larger topic and that is whether or not Holyoke should participate in allocating funds for such work through the Community Preservation Act, something it does not do at the present time, Morse said.
   
Follow the effort on the campaign’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SavetheStainedGlassWindows.