Steele City Church Gets New Window, New Light

“It was definitely a challenge,” Dave Hergenrader of Classic Wood of Lincoln said of the custom window he built for the church in Steele City.In recent years storm winds blew in the window at the church, which is owned by the Jefferson County Historical Society. Seeking to have the window replaced, Steve Block and other members of the JCHS began pursuing someone with the knowledge and skill to replace the window.Enter Hergenrader. JCHS members found photos of a church window Hergenrader did in Lincoln, at 13th and H Streets and began inquiring about him fixing this problem.“My wife and I came down and took measurements and started constructing a plan,” Hergenrader said, noting it took nearly a year to construct the window, which consists of 28 pieces. “It was a giant puzzle.”Installation took over four hours on Aug. 27.One of the challenges Hergenrader faced was that the window is not a true circle, but more oblong. The window is 102 inches top-to-bottom and 112 inches side-to-side.Built in 1880, the church has been a staple of tourism in the Steele City area for decades. After storms blew in the window, Hergenrader was able to salvage some pieces of the original window and reverse engineer how to build a new window.“The window is built the right way, it will be around longer than I will be,” Hergenrader said. “That window is not coming apart.”The center of the window is the original stained glass piece from 1880. There is plexiglass to protect the window inside and out from the elements, adding to the longevity of the life of the window.To truly appreciate the beauty of the window, Hergenrader said from the inside looking out is truly majestic.“I was leaving and went inside the church to see if I had all of my tools and looked up at the window and just said, ‘oh, wow,’ that window is just awesome,” Hergenrader said. “When I walked outside that afternoon I just thought ‘this is so cool.’ My goal is when I walk away from a project, people get what they wanted out of the project and are happy.”Steve Block of the JCHS said the members of his group are happy with the project and are excited for people to see the church during Steele City Flea Market on Sept. 17-18. However, Block noted that letting people inside has not yet been determined as there is still some cleaning and other repair work needed to be done to the church.“We knew this was going to be a big project and the window just looks great,” Block said.Installing a light in the window to help illuminate the artwork is being discussed by JCHS members.

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