when Dieter Spielberg in 2001 returned to Germany from the memorable Mencken-Day 2001 (the flight from Germany went on 09-11-2001!!), he had taken home – in addition to a heap of impressions – a copy of the Mencken window of 1922 (?) from the Mencken collection (IMG.tif). When D. Spielberg later during a visit at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig had to discover that the window was neither to be found at the designated place nor anywhere else, the disappointment was rather deep. During his efforts to establish a Mencken Initiative in Germany he met Mr. Michel Matke of Leipzig. Mr. Matke had previously contributed to an exhibition of musical instruments from the era of Johann Sebastian Bach. These instruments had been stored in the basement and, at least partly, fallen into oblivion prior to the exhibition. Later on he again searched the basement of the church together with Mr. Philippi, a member of the church administration, and was indeed rewarded. They found about ten church windows, among them the Mencken window hoped and longed for. As one can recognize on the photo (JMG_1707_1_1_1.JPG), the window was ¾ complete and therefore suitable for restoration!! One can also see that the upper part of the window and with it the whole deer head was lost.
Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Sachsen, Dresden
Landesamt = State Office
die Denkmalpflege = care and preservation of ancient monuments / preservation of ancient monuments / care of historical monuments / preservation of monuments
das Denkmal = benchmark / historical monument / memorial /monument
die Pflege =care / maintenance / nurture / support
The parish council of St. Thomas which approved the restoration of the window
Mr Matthias Förster, architect, Leipzig
Mr Joy Kreß, architect, monument conservator at the Administrative Church Council Office
Mr Michel Matke, founder of a glazier’s artistic workshop in Leipzig
Mr David Philippi, administrative office of St. Thomas Church in Leipzig
Mr Dirk Schneider, running a glazier’s artistic workshop in Leipzig. This workshop was founded by Mr. Michel Matke
Dr Alberto Schwarz, State Office of Saxony for the Preservation of Historical Monuments, Dresden
Mrs Sabine Slowik
Mr Dieter Spielberg, Mencken Society member