Update: I went back and revisited the church in October of 2020 and again in May of 2022.
So they’ve stolen just about all of the copper off of the old parish church of St. Mark’s on Page Boulevard (I could have sworn I’ve posted pictures of the church in the past). All of the roof of the tower used to be copper, and down along the eaves, where the tiles are removed, the copper was ripped out.
Funny that no one notices and reports the thefts, as they MUST be accomplished during daylight hours …
Does the SLMPD notice? Does it ever take action against this or similar thefts?
After all, people on tall ladders on roofs are hardly invisible.
And scrap dealers must never ask the source of or record obviously aged copper roofing and odd shapes? They are as much to blame as the thieves!
I’ve been told that without being able to locate an owner of a property, it’s difficult to prove that the scrapper is actually stealing. Yeah, I know…
And regards to the person buying these pieces of copper, I would agree that without dishonest people, these scrappers would have little incentive to vandalize these beautiful structures.
good morning chris. I always enjoy your articles, I too love old buildings and live in the city. I was wondering if you had any info on the old german cultural society building off of Jefferson ave. in Lafayette square? it has been boarded up for the past 40+ years. I think it has a theater attached in the back with stain glass windows. I can’t believe someone does not want to restore it.
Dan, it is still owned by the Church of Scientology, which had plans several years ago to convert it into one of their centers. Apparently it never happened. I know the Lafayette Square community had voiced concerns, and the Scientologists had agreed to not proselytize in the neighborhood. I do not know why they never went through with the renovations.