Posted on 12/15/2006 9:58:44 AM PST by Alex Murphy
Made in the Tiffany style and donated 85 years ago in honor of a fallen World War I soldier, the stained glass window that graces the parish house of the old First Presbyterian Church in Stapleton is a historic treasure.
It was nearly stolen, in what would have been a nasty Christmastime surprise, but for divine intervention.
A construction boss wanted to sell the 6-by-11 foot window to an antiques dealer for $500, according to police, who estimated its real value at close to $50,000.
"Had I not gotten there on time, that window would have obviously been gone, and no one would have had any kind of knowledge," said the Rev. Dr. Victor Brown, pastor of Mount Sinai United Christian Church, which is annexing the Stapleton church building.
Patrick Cloke, 38, of Oakwood, was heading a renovation crew working at the old church on Tuesday, authorities said, when a dealer passed by on Brownell Street and asked if the window were for sale.
Cloke, the foreman for a crew hired by the Presbytery of New York, offered to sell it for $500, authorities charge. No money changed hands, but the next day, he ordered his workers to take it out of the building, according to police.
Rev. Brown came by the church at about 2 p.m. that day and saw that the window had been removed.
None of the workers could explain why, so Rev. Brown called the Presbytery and found out no one was authorized to take it down, he told the Advance yesterday.
He decided to call the police.
Cloke showed up about 10 minutes later, and after Rev. Brown and detectives from the North Shore's 120th Precinct confronted him, he admitted he planned to sell the stained glass window.
"It's my fault. I'm wrong," Cloke allegedly told police, according to court papers. "I did it. I'm the only one involved. I was either going to cut the window up or sell it the way it is. It's all me."
DONATED IN 1921
The window, created by Lamb Studios, was donated to the church in 1921 by a woman betrothed to Harold Pouch of Staten Island's prominent Pouch family.
Harold Pouch died in the Argonnes Forest in France, the site of the "fiercest, bloodiest battle of World War I," said the Rev. Bill Merryman, First Presbyterian Church's former pastor.
The window, which bears a spiderweb crack from a past incident, depicts a forest with a stream and mountains, and red poppies that evoke scenes from World War I.
"The glass in the tree trunks is like bark in a tree. Very rough, but shiny. I don't imagine it's the type of glass you can buy today," Rev. Merryman said, marveling at the detail.
"It is a beautiful, beautiful window," said the Rev. Lee MacCallum, pastor of Olivet Presbyterian Church in West Brighton. "It's the kind of window that would be a tragedy to lose, and could easily be sold to a collector."
FACING A PRISON TERM
Cloke was charged with third- and fourth-degree grand larceny, as well as third- and fourth-degree possession of stolen property, according to William J. Smith, spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan.
If convicted of the top charge, he could face two and one-third to seven years in prison.
"It was obviously a crime. He obviously knew what he was doing," Rev. Brown said. "His fate lies in the hands of the judicial system."
Cloke refused comment when called at his Isabella Avenue home last night.
The window has been returned to its proper place in the parish house.
"I told the workers that the window had better go back in the same way they took it out," Rev. Brown said.
The antiques dealer, whose name Rev. Brown could not provide yesterday, "obviously was not aware that this was being sold to him illegally," the reverend said.
"He assumed financial responsibility to have the window put back. He expressed tremendous, tremendous remorse."
the simple fact is that in construction, contractors are primarily thieves!!
they'll charge u for premium parts, then try to get the reciept and go back to the store and exchange them for walmart grade quality and pocket the difference
simply committing outright theft is not something i would put beyond anyone of them
too bad there's not a pic of the window, sounds pretty cool!
If the judge is Presbyterian, watch out.
That's quite a broad brush you've got there. Didn't swipe it from a contractor, did you?!
that...was a pretty funny crack!
.....and your trade is what my FRiend ?
property management, so thats why i have more contact with this particular field than i would care too!
all i'm basically saying is that contractors are very similar to car salesmen
they prey on joe homeowner not being comfortable or familiar with the details so that they can maximize their profit
which is fine, as long as it is done in an ethical manner (which many car salesmen and contractors might not follow!)
the mis-information and the predatory nature is what bothers me, the unethical (IMHO) nature of it
Just had a furnace installed, the contractor steered me away from duct cleaning and vari speed blower motors as they considered them a waste of money - the crew hustled hard, and my cost was a value
it seems like a field with higher than normal average of having a bad experience with (thats not a scientific fact i admit, i'm basing that on my experience)
i think the car-salesman analogy is correct, because car salesmen often live up to the stereotype (not a PC thing to say, but based on my experience)
its based on greed, which is fundamental part of human nature
greed can spur the development of profound things
but i don't think any of the contractors i know are involved in any real profound experiences except the occasional drug addict!
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