A two-year project to restore a historic stained glass window at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton is on hold after a trailer containing the custom-made window frame was stolen from a local hotel parking lot.
The 16-foot cargo trailer was taken from the Drury Inn and Suites parking lot, 6616 Miller Lane, sometime early Sunday morning, according to Butler Twp. police Lt. Chris Guthrie.
The trailer is owned by Welton/O'Neill Studio, a New Mexico-based business that specializes in preserving and restoring historic stained glass windows.
Co-owner Tim O’Neill said they planned to start installing the large stained glass window on Monday, but they can’t go forward without the custom-made frame.
This is no ordinary window frame. O’Neill said the frame was transported in the trailer across the country in five sections, each weighing 250 pounds.
Installing the one window, which dates back to about 1925, would take about a month to complete. The project to restore and reinstall it was started two years ago, O’Neill said.
“We’re hoping we can get back the trailer and everything that’s in it,” he said, “but our greatest hope is that we can get the frames because they took several months to fabricate.”
The silver trailer is unique with the words “Noble Effort” spelled out in large letters on both sides. It also features a red cross on the back and sides of the trailer.
The trailer contained $6,000 to $10,000 worth of tools as well as the custom window frame, which the victims hope will not be turned into scrap.
“We’ve come a long ways and it’s cost us a lot of money,” O’Neill said. “We’d like to be able to get the job done and go home.”
Lt. Guthrie asks if anyone sees the trailer or can help in the investigation, contact Butler Twp. police at (937) 233-2080.
