1999 Damage to the Chapel

During the first week of September 1999, vandals attempted to burn down the Chapel in the Meadow.  Grass surrounding the Chapel was burnt and scorch marks stained the exterior walls.  A 4 foot diameter circle was burnt into the roof, but did not extend into the Chapel's interior.  The frescos and paintings were not damaged.

On 10 September, 1999, as workmen repairing the above damage, left for lunch, the Chapel was fire bombed, probably with gasoline or kerosene.  A fisherman on the nearby lake, reported hearing an explosion and saw flames shooting above the tree tops.  He ran to the Chapel and removed statues and wreaths, and then called the Fire Department.

The fire did get into the interior this time and the beautiful "God's Eye" on the ceiling was destroyed.  Liquid from the fire bomb stained the frescos on the side walls.

A telephone call later that day to the Franklin Daily Journal by an anonymous person, claimed "credit" for the act.  It was stated that it was in revenge for Waco, and that the U. S. government had declared war and this was the first step in retaliation.