Hiemer & Company Stained-Glass Windows

According to our research, the Hiemer & Company Stained Glass Studios, located at 403 Crooks Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07011 (973) 772-5081, was hired by Victor Zucchi & Sons to create the stained glass for our church.  Victor Zucchi was the artistic director of the project and worked with Monsignor Michael J. Donnelly (pastor from 1909-1950) and Judith Hiemer Van Wie's grandfather, Edward, to develop the artistic theme and subject plan for the stained-glass windows. 

The windows were created over a period from 1938 until 1941.  Not all the windows were donated when they were installed because job instructions were found concerning adding donor plates to windows that were already in place.  Monsignor must have found another source of funding until a donor came forward to sponsor the window.

The windows are in the Romanesque Revival style that was popular in the United States from the early 1930’s until the 1950’s.  The figures themselves are in the Munich style which is denoted by realistic portrayals.  They are made of the finest materials including mouth blown antique glass from Germany, England, France and Poland. The windows were designed by Georg Hiemer (Judith's great grandfather) who was a stained-glass designer in Munich, Germany, before coming to the United States prior to World War II.  He freelanced at many of the major studios in Germany and Austria before becoming Artistic Director at Von Gerhichten Studios in Munich.  His son Edward, apprenticed under Georg and moved to the United States in the late 1920’s joining Von Gerhichten’s Columbus, Ohio, studio. Later, his father and mother joined him in Ohio. 

After the stock market crash in 1929, Von Gerhichten closed the Ohio studio so Georg, Edward and another artist, Conrad Pickel, started Hiemer & Company to finish out the projects in progress. Around 1937, they moved the operation to Paterson, New Jersey to better meet the needs of the Roman Catholic population which was their target market. Conrad Pickel went on to start his own firm in Vero Beach, Florida, currently under the direction of his son, Paul. In 1949, the Hiemers built the studio they currently occupy in Clifton, New Jersey.

Eleven (11) double panel nave windows were made between 1938–1939 a Baptistry circle, and transom over an entry (1941).  The front choir windows are older and were made by Rudolph Buenz who was a glass artist in Newton.  Most of the remaining windows are original and dates back to the late 1890’s.  There is no record in the files of their origin. There was a proposal to change the sanctuary windows to match the Hiemer windows but it was not a project Monsignor Donnelly wanted to pursue at that time.  In 1977, ventilators and protective glazing were replaced for Father Thomas H. Murphy (pastor from 1969-1980). Father Edward Davey (pastor from 1980-1999) had us perform some work in 1995 to get the ventilators under better operation. In 2006, there was a proposal for frame replacement, but it does not seem that there were the funds to pursue the project.

As far as budgets went, the stained-glass made in 1938 cost $241.00 per pair and included a new ventilator and protective glazing.  The Saint Veronica and Immaculate Conception windows cost $227.00 for the pair.  The baptistry window was $51.15 and the stained-glass over the entry was $66.00.  According to a written agreement with Victor Zucchi, the windows were to cost $200.00 each plus the cost of vents and storm glass.  At least two had to be made at a time in order for these prices to be cost effective.  The price of the first window was lowered to $150.00 “In consideration of a donation that you (Victor Zucchi) are obliged to make to the church.”  As you are well aware, these windows cannot even be restored for their original price.

On September 22, 2016, Father ST Sutton (pastor from August 15, 2017 to present) approached the Hiemer Stained Glass Company and met with James Van Wie to see what was needed to restore the stained-glass windows that were in ill-repair.  Beginning on September 17, 2017 and being completed on September 10, 2021, all the stained-glass windows in the church were removed, cleaned, re-leaded and replaced with the additional painting to the inside and outside of each window.  

The panels were in varying stages of deterioration showing signs of buckling and bulging, which is caused when the cement compound applied between the lead and glass dries up and falls out. This allows the soft lead to bulge inward and outward.  This is the natural condition of aging panels.  If untreated, the stress applied to the lead would cause solder joints to crack and eventually glass will crack and/or fall out completely.  In some areas these more advanced stages of decay were already evident. 

It was proposed that a three (3) stage project would commence with nine (9) panels (cf chart: marked as "BB" panels) exhibiting extreme bulging would be restored, one (1) piece each at windows 6x24 secured, five (5) pieces protective glazing would be replaced and the rotten wood at three (3) windows would be replaced (windows #19, 20 and 35).  This first stage cost: $22,530.00. 

The second stage would restore twelve (12) badly bulging panels (marked as "B" panels). This second stage cost: $18, 950.00. 

The third stage would encompass painting on the exterior of thirty-five (35) windows after being scraped and painted. This third stage cost: $33, 175.00. 

The four and final stage, would be the interior cleaning of the remaining panels.  This cost was: $3,250.00, bringing the final cost of this three (3) year restoration to: $77,905.00.  Thanks to the generosity of so many people, all of this amount was paid without costing the parish any money from its resources.