Out with the old, in with the new

Sledge hammers started pounding the old 1912 church at St. Stephen's at dusk today. This is believed to be the oldest standing church building in the county. The church was built by Coconut Grove pioneers.

According to Melissa Meyer from New Urban Architecture, an architect who worked on the project, and also, a church member, the church had promised to hold off on the demolition until a meeting could take place. Guess even church's can't be trusted. But it is their property and they can do what they want with it. Even if it is to start destruction on a Saturday evening.

Large canvases block the construction area. It's hard to get a good look.

You can see the front door was partially destroyed, guess the façade is not going to be saved that well. The bell tower is still standing. Hopefully that won't be damaged.

Here is Melissa's take on this:

Sadly, when I got to the church at about 5:00 pm (Saturday) I saw four fellow parishioners, a member of the school staff, and a five member construction crew with crow bars and sledge hammers in their hands. A locked chain link fence covered with opaque nylon to hide the chapel surrounded the area. I walked around to the main entrance to see what was going on. Demolition was supposed to be postponed until after a meditation meeting (scheduled by the pastor herself) between local historians and preservationists takes place on Tuesday. Needless to say, I was quite surprised.

A member of the construction crew, who didn't know who I was, opened the locked gate at the main entrance for me. I made my way to rear of the chapel when suddenly I was grabbed with two hands by long time church member and past church vestry member, Bonnell Denten. I have known him for over 12 years. I told him I just wanted to see what was going on. He forcibly removed me from the church property. I couldn't believe it.

As I walked around to the chapels Main Highway entrance, I made a few calls, and in a flash the dream team arrived. We watched as a worker took a sledge hammer to the plaque on the front of the chapel that reads "Soper Hall circa 1912". I felt sick.

The four fellow parishioners, the school employee and Bonnel Denton guarded the chain link fence. They seemed quite content with themselves. The demolition crew proceeded to hack away at the header over the front door of the chapel and then moved on to prying off one of the wooden brackets at the roof line. By then a crowd had gathered.

It's illegal to demo a building after 6:00 pm, so right after 6:00 the police were called and they eventually forced the crew to halt demolition (at about 6:20). The crew disappeared to the back of the property. We eventually left. I went back at midnight to see if they were trying to proceed with demolition and there is a couple of Vangaurd security guards there guarding the chain link fence on Main Highway.

I'm not sure if they will try to demo in the middle of the night, but given what I saw this evening, I wouldn't be surprised. Church tomorrow should be interesting.

Part of the on-going St. Stephen's saga
Photo by Harry Emilio Gottlieb