September 28, 2022
Saving the Shrine
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Submitted photo The Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine in Florissant suffered extensive flood damage from the record rainfall in July. Friends of Old St. Ferdinand, Inc. is currently in the process of restoring the church.
The Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine in Florissant is currently in the process of being restored from water damage it incurred during historic rainfall in July By Wendy Todd The Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine in Florissant is one of the oldest Catholic locations west of the Mississippi and is considered an important part of the history of the area. It’s maintained by the Friends of Old St. Ferdinand, Inc., a nonprofit that is currently in the process of restoring the church from the water damage it incurred from a historic rainfall in late July. According to the church, the rainfall flooded the convent, church, rectory and school house with almost three feet of water. The
nonprofit is currently raising funds for restoration and repair. Anna Gettemeier Vogel, one of the volunteers at the shrine, described the damage and repairs that are needed. “Everything that was under water will need to be torn out or carefully restored,” she said. “For the school house, new drywall, paint, and all the furniture and appliances will be replaced. For the church, convent, and rectory, the floor, statue pedestals, baptismal font and the confessional from the original church in the 1700’s will also need to be replaced.” Other items became moldy and along with
the pews, altar and plastered walls will get cleaned. The electrical, heating and cooling will also need to be replaced. The cost of repairs is still being estimated and the shrine’s restoration company is finalizing bids. “Construction and materials have changed a lot in 200 years,” Gettemeier Vogel said. “Shrine volunteers are compiling lists of the non-historic items to replace: signs, gift shop inventory, office furniture, tables and chairs, kitchen supplies and more.” See ‘SHRINE’ page 2
Serving North & Northwest St. Louis County | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol. 101 No. 39 | 636-379-1775
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