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Historic North Side Church Vandalized

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Oct 29, 2009 8:46 pm US/Eastern

Historic North Side Church Vandalized

NORTH SIDE (KDKA) ― The bell towers of St. Wenceslas Church, just shy of the 16th Street Bridge, used to beckon the Czech immigrants who worked hard in Mr. Heinz's factory next door.

It was here they were baptized, posted wedding banns and were buried beginning in 1889.

"But recently people have started throwing rocks at the windows - the windows have been appraised at over $100,000," says Ed Vitunic as he points out the damage.

The stained-glass windows, paid for by the long-dead families whose names still grace them, are beautiful. The themes are non-liturgical and the violet, aqua and pale green coloring is exceptional.

Over the last two weeks vandals have been using the windows for target practice. The rocks remain where they landed. Shards of glass lie shattered on the floor.

Ed and his wife Celeste bought the Bohemian Catholic church building in 1994. Ed, an engineer, put a lot of sweat equity into the place.

They converted it into a successful day care center for 10 years. Now a small congregation is renting the sanctuary for weekly services.

"When I had the day care center here is was a thriving community, and I would like to see it continue, and vandalism like this just does not help," Celeste said.

"One of the reasons we bought the church, the building was the windows were just magnificent," adds Ed.

The Vitunics have filed a report with police and called the Mayor's office but remain frustrated and fearful that the windows will be destroyed before the culprits are caught.

In the meantime, Ed will protect his property as best he can.

The couple, from Alison Park, are so discouraged they are contemplating selling the windows and the building separately or together.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.