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Post by mllemass on Apr 16, 2019 22:27:57 GMT
The images on the news of the damage done to the cathedral remind me of a massive fire that occurred in my city’s cathedral about 20 years ago. It looks quite similar to Notre Dame, although much smaller. It’s in the same Gothic style, but built around 1930.
While making the repairs after the fire, they took the opportunity to make other updates, so it was closed for 2 years. In that time, they cleaned up the stone walls and pillars, added air conditioning and carpeting, and improved the lighting. They also installed a new sound system and tv monitors. They now broadcast mass live from there on tv on Christmas Eve and other special occasions. Some of the stained glass windows were destroyed in the fire, so they had them re-built by the same German company who made the original windows. And they added an elevator, making the building totally accessible! It’s doubtful that any of those improvements would have been possible if there hadn’t been a fire, so it’s sort of a blessing-in-disguise kind of thing.
And the church has been used for filming, too - some made-for-tv movies have been filmed there, as well as at least two episodes of Murdoch Mysteries!
Edit: My local tv news just compared the Paris fire to our local cathedral fire, which happened in 1981 and not 20 years ago as I thought! They are going to do a more in-depth report on it tomorrow.
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Post by onebluestocking on Apr 17, 2019 2:47:22 GMT
I don't see how they could possibly know before investigating, unless someone fessed up to knocking over a candle or something! But I really hope this was the case.
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Post by queenzod on Apr 17, 2019 3:09:13 GMT
They were doing reconstruction work on the spire, and the roof is where the fire started. But yes, investigation is needed.
Many years ago there was a junk shop about 1/4 mile from my house. It was huge and rambling, with outbuildings, chock full of old chairs, furniture, baskets, all kinds of stuff. It had been there for decades. Great place. One of those places that made you want to shower after you left.
Anyway, a large grocery store wanted to buy the property and everyone was talking about how difficult it would be to clean it out. Like, pretty impossible. Lo and behold, one afternoon, on a clear and sunny day, it was “hit by lightening” and burned down completely. Everyone knew it was probably arson, but they got away with it. 😂
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Post by ellie on Apr 17, 2019 10:49:49 GMT
I don't see how they could possibly know before investigating, unless someone fessed up to knocking over a candle or something! But I really hope this was the case. OMG can you imagine being the clumsy tourist who knocked over a candle and burnt down the cathedral. That would be one heck of a thing to have to “fess up.” It makes me particularly worried because I’m extremely clumsy. Once managed to set my sleeve on fire while lighting a candle in an ancient cathedral. Fortunately a friend was on hand to prevent an historic conflagration.
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Post by sgev1977 on Apr 17, 2019 12:10:12 GMT
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Post by onebluestocking on Apr 17, 2019 12:38:00 GMT
Was Ellie anywhere near Paris on Monday? The odd thing I thought, was that at the time they reported fires had broken out in two different areas at once. So the results of the investigation will be interesting.
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Post by ellie on Apr 17, 2019 13:16:42 GMT
Was Ellie anywhere near Paris on Monday? The odd thing I thought, was that at the time they reported fires had broken out in two different areas at once. So the results of the investigation will be interesting. No. I was well out of harm’s way in Dublin. 😆
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