The legend says that some of the nuns were so afraid to descend the 22-foot drop that they would crawl down on their hands and knees. The craftsman did not use nails or glue he only used wooden pegs to secure the steps.
There are no central column or support beams, and it appears that all the weight is self-supported at the base. Construction MysteriesĪnother mystery is the construction of the Loretto staircase itself. Exactly who this man was is just one of the many mysteries surrounding the Loretto Chapel staircase. He never asked for, nor received, payment for his labor or even supplies. At no time during his work did he identify himself. So much so, that they organized a banquet in honor of the carpenter.
When the spiral staircase was finished, the Sisters were delighted with how it turned out. Some insist that construction was completed quickly, while others reported that it took longer than might have been necessary. Reports made at the time do contradict one another. Some of the Sisters did state they saw wood soaking in tubs they provided for him. While they used the chapel for their own activities, the carpenter retreated – returning only when the chapel was empty. The Sisters were only too pleased to agree to these terms if it meant getting their staircase done. The only condition he placed upon the Sisters was that he would have to work in private. The solo workman, unlike many tradesmen that had a look prior to him, said that it was possible to construct a useful staircase to the loft without becoming an eyesore in the available space. He was invited in and discovered the dilemma left behind with the untimely passing of the original architect. The first thing the man revealed to the Sisters was that he was a carpenter by trade. On the 9th day of prayer, a visitor arrived at their door with his mule and some tools. Joseph – the patron saint of carpenters – to help with a solution for the chapel stairs. Sometime around 1880, the entire order began to pray to St. Legend of the Loretto Chapel Staircase The Story
0 kommentar(er)
