Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 December 2000 — Page 4

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' THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2000

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CHURCH Continued from A1 because it’s gone. It hurts.” Sexton is planning to construct an apartment complex on the land they bought from the Indianapolis Catholic Archdiocese in July. Officials from the company were unavailable for comment. St. Bridget supporters were scheduled to meet with Sexton management last Monday to discuss the church building and alternatives to its destruction. ‘‘We had history. Now we’re getting suburban style apartments instead,” said Linda Lasley, who lives near the church. “St. Bridget’s was worth saving. It represented African Americans, Catholics and this entire community. It’s was a place to point out as unique.” According to local historians, St. Bridget’s was built in 1879 and became the largest parish in the city by the early 20th century. The church was also the first to have a Catholic school for AfricanAmerican children and remained a vital component of Indianapolis’ Black community until its controversial closing in 1994. Lasley said the abandoned building served as a reminder of a spiritual center and congregation’s exceptional existence. She attempted to get a temporary restraining order to delay the demolition, but was unsuccessful. According to Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana presi-

An unidentified man looks over plans for a new apartment complex to be built on the property formerly occupied by St. Bridgets.

dent Reid Williamson, his organization, neighborhood groups and petitioners were also scheduled meet with the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission to have the church declared a historic landmark. The proclamation would have given the commission authority to approve or deny the demolition. St. Bridget hopefuls never got that far as Sexton raced to clear their purchased property. Williamson said the company never seemed willing to consider other options. “I was not surprised (they knocked down the building before the meetings), but I was disappointed,” said Williamson, who proposed that the apartments be

built on vacant property just north of the church. He added that Indianapolis didn’t just sacrifice what one designer called a “fine example of very pure church architecture.” “It’s a serious loss,” he said. “Nobody is building inner city churches these days. When we lose these churches they aren’t being rebuilt. “That church was not only a part of our architectural heritage, but also more importantly our faith heritage — which affects us all.” At Recorder press time, one St. Bridget wall was still standing. While the Sexton company will eventually have it and the remaining debris removed, supporters said the place of worship’s legacy will endure.

Productive discussion

Dr. Walter E. Williams, noted economist and author of America: A Minority Viewpoint, The Sta Against Blacks, talks with Recorder Columnist Amos Brown. Williams was in town last week as featured lecturer for Ameritech and SBC Global Network’s Master Scholars Speaker Series, (photel

Curtis Guynn)

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Fratwomangovemoretectedh^uurtoRico

Calderon ran on a platform of oust- as his “high-handed and arrogantf* ing the U.S. Navy from the adja- style, and this hardly boosted

cent island of Vieques, where a bombing range has generated mass protests, and by hammering away at allegations of corruption within

island’s first female governor and therulingNPP—including a scan- wealth relationship with the Unit^ dealing a blow to the pro-statehood dal in which bureaucrats were si- States, rather than making the ii*

phoning off shoeboxes of cash in- ’

tended for AIDS patients. Rossello’s popularity had been

steadily dropping in polls, due partly to what one analyst described

By KATHERINE STAPP NEW YORK (IPS) — As the United States waits to see who will be its next president, another hotly contested race has ended in Puerto Rico with voters electing the

party’s gubernatorial candidate;

Carlos Pesquera.

The new governor favors prigf

serving Puerto Rico’s

common

New Progressive Party (NPP) Sila Calderon, the mayor of San Juan, will replace Gov. Pedro Rossello, an NPP politician who has held the office for eight years.

land the 51st state, and votef$ clearly identified with her positidSj —as a similar majority did in no»; binding referendums held in 19<Sj

and 1998.

Smooth Jazz Cherryl Hayes will perform at the Holiday Jazz Showcase 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 14 at the Madame Walker Ballroom. The event is sponsored by the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation. Call 767-9000.