1953 Fire Destroys Church

Prize possessions in the original Church of the Redeemer at Sixth and Washington included a Johnston Tractor organ purchased at the World’s Fair in St. Louis, MO.  The organ won a gold medal for its tone.

Priest vestments of red brocade silk, hand embroidered by nuns in Belgium were also purchased at the World’s Fair.

Other valuable articles included altar linens imported from Belgium, imported nativity figurines from Germany, large life size crucifix, and stained glass windows.

All of these prize possessions were in the Church Saturday morning, November 7, 1953, when fire gutted the interior of the church.  Lost in the fire was the organ, vestments, altar linens and the large crucifix.