Squaw chapels historic windows to shine again

After years of being cracked and broken by heavy snow, vandals and fire, the decorated glass window panes of the Squaw Valley Chapel are being restored to the condition they were in when the chapel was built for the 1960 Olympics.Its kind of a quiet little building of history, Rev. Art Domingue said Friday morning as he stood in the chapel looking at its 360 degrees of bonded, stained-glass windows covered with rectangular segments of whites, oranges and blues to reflect Tahoes four seasons. The glass becomes lighter and more translucent toward the front of the chapel.It just is dramatic how it goes from one shade to another, he said.But since the chapel opened for tourists and athletes to worship nearly half a century ago, the potato-chip-shaped building has met its fair share of obstacles.Over the years, some bad things have happened, Domingue said. Vandals and snow have broken several window panes, and a fire from a woodstove sent cracks up many of the remaining windows. Some of the broken colored panes have been replaced with clear windows, ruining universal religious symbols such as a fish and a phoenix. Other windows still sit with holes in them.Thanks to a donation from a family corporation, glass has been ordered and the chapels broken windows should be restored within 60 days, said Paul Arthur, who is overseeing the work and is head of the Sacred Space Committee. Its a gift, Domingue said. And its a gift to this chapel and this valley.The chapel contracted with a glass company in Minden, Nev. Arthur said he got four bids, some outrageous, and he thinks the project may cost about $35,000.But Domingue said he wants the world to know that chapel staff is making an effort to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Olympics at Squaw Valley by restoring the chapel to its pristine condition.The place of worship has a great history, he said.I went to the very first service that was held here, Arthur said, remembering that day in February 1960.The chapel is an inviting spot for a wedding, and Arthur said his son and daughter both were married there. Domingue said people stop in frequently to tell stories about getting married in the chapel or attending services there during the Olympics. The 2002 Olympic torch carried through Squaw by World Cup Champion Tamara McKinney hangs on the wall.Music groups, womens groups and Alcoholic Anonymous groups regularly use the chapel in addition to the 50 or so people who attend the Sunday service and the 500 that visit the on Christmas.Its social; its faithful; its spiritual. Its all kind of space, Domingue said.Spotlights shoot up from the ground outside to emphasize the colored glass walls.Its quite spectacular. Its also quite hard to keep clean, Domingue said. And our bear doesnt help.Bears tend to gather under the chapels porch, he said. And they like to tear out the ducts to lay on, making the nearly all-glass building even harder to heat.The chapels next project is to install heavy boards around the outside of the building to block bears from moving in. But for now, Domingue is focusing on restoring the window panes back to their picturesque form.Its just gorgeous, he said. People come and melt.