| Project by Jim Jakosh | posted 319 days ago | 1214 views | 0 times favorited | 26 comments |  |
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I named these the “Phoenix” bells because they literally rose out of the ashes. I first posted them in this project- http://lumberjocks.com/projects/55783 – over a year ago when I made the holder for the original bells of the first St Mary Magdalen church from 1956. Last Sunday night, the church caught fire and was almost entirely destroyed. The biggest loss was the full array of stained glass windows that were made by a single artist, Maria Orr, over the course of 3 years. They were dedicated last year.
I knew where they kept the bells in the front of the church, so yesterday, Tim, Bob and I sifted through the rubble a foot deep with a shovel and rake and we found all three bells. We wanted to have a chance to look before an end loader cleared the area. The 4th pictures shows what they looked like after the fire. The brass inserts also survived and I used them over on this holder.
The holder is a bit different in contour and it is made of quarter sawn white oak with Zar 120 stain. The finish is clear matte spray.
The bells will be a surprise for Fr. Godfrey when he says the 5 o’clock mass tomorrow at the East Kentwood high school auditorium.
.....................Jim
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!
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26 comments so far
littlecope
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2329 posts in 1670 days
#1 posted 318 days ago
Wonderful Project Jim… Awful about the Church though!
-- Mike in Concord, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.
Alongiron
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331 posts in 861 days
#2 posted 318 days ago
Too bad about the church but glad you were able to save some of the memories! Great work as always!
-- Measure twice and cut once.....
WoodenFrog
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2351 posts in 1081 days
#3 posted 318 days ago
Great project Jim! sorry about the church.
-- Robert B. Sabina, Ohio.....
peteg
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2268 posts in 991 days
#4 posted 318 days ago
Fabulous reconstruction Jim, a fire like this takes an awful lot of selflessly donated treasures with it but there are always good folk like yourself who step up to the mark & do it all again.
Good luck Mate
Pete
-- Pete G: If you always do what you always did you'll always get what you always got
Joe Lyddon
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6392 posts in 2220 days
#5 posted 318 days ago
Very nice ‘rememberance’ project.
A real shame about those stained glass windows…
COOL bells!
-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?ppuser=1389&cat=500"
Blackie_
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1653 posts in 681 days
#6 posted 318 days ago
Well a very special project indeed and I know the pastor will be over whelmed. Sorry about the church.
-- Randy - If I'm not on LJ's then I'm making Saw Dust. Please feel free to visit my store location at http://www.facebook.com/randy.blackstock.custom.wood.designs
RKaste
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144 posts in 324 days
#7 posted 318 days ago
Sad to hear about the church and yes the pastor will be surprised to see the bells, Outstanding job
-- --May you have fair winds and following seas--
Roger
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9191 posts in 972 days
#8 posted 318 days ago
1st off, sorry to hear about such a bad thing. You’re a good guy Jim. You’ve done a fine job of literally bringing them out of the ashes. How bout a little clip so we can hear what those babies sound like?? (if possible) and thnx
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net
jack1
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1803 posts in 2195 days
#9 posted 318 days ago
Plucked from the ashes… What a great thing you’ve done. Hope the church is quickly rebuilt.
-- jack -- ...measure once, curse twice!
Woodwrecker
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3005 posts in 1744 days
#10 posted 318 days ago
Triumph from tragedy.
Nice job Jim.
You picked up some “special points” for that one !
-- Eric
Bob Collins
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1128 posts in 1852 days
#11 posted 318 days ago
Nice save Jim and beautiful piece of restoring. Sorry to hear about your Church and I’m sure your Pastor will be surprised.
-- Bob C, Australia. I love sharing as long as it is not my tools
Rustic
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2984 posts in 1764 days
#12 posted 318 days ago
Bless you Jim See you tomorrow. Where is the auditorium?
-- www.carvingandturningsbyrick.com, Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI
Jim Jakosh
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7262 posts in 1274 days
#13 posted 318 days ago
Hi Rick. To get to the auditorium, take the drive in like we go to the guild meeting, but do not turn right at the stop sign. Go straight and look for door K on the right…............Jim
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!!
rance
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3856 posts in 1329 days
#14 posted 318 days ago
That will be a great surprise. Very nice of you to put this together for Fr. Godfrey.
-- Backer boards, stop blocks, build oversized, and never buy a hand plane--
Rick
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3558 posts in 1201 days
#15 posted 318 days ago
Nice Project! Thanks for Posting!
Rick
-- ENJOY YOURSELVES GUYS!!!
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