Unbroken Spirit

In the early hours of February 4, 2025, a senseless act of vandalism shattered more than glass at Meadow Brook Hall — it struck at the heart of a cultural and historical landmark. Two original stained-glass windows from the Hall’s 1929 construction, depicting scenes of music, literature and drama, were demolished — a lower one kicked through and an upper one struck with a tool.

Following an anonymous tip, the suspect was apprehended. According to Meadow Brook Hall Executive Director Bill Matt, the situation could have been even worse — safety bars installed the previous year to protect children during day camps likely prevented the vandal from plunging 20 feet to the floor below.

“We were trying to prevent accidents,” says Matt. “Ironically, those bars probably saved his life.”

Before the act of vandalism, Meadow Brook Hall had secured a $200,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to support the restoration of its stained-glass window collection. The grant covered repairs for 18 stained or leaded glass windows and installation of 140 UV filters. Approximately $10,000 of the funding had been allocated for the restoration of the two windows that were later damaged. Fortunately, detailed etchings and photographs of the entire collection had already been taken in preparation for the project. However, after the destruction, the cost to repair just the two shattered windows soared to $42,000 — far exceeding the portion of the grant originally designated for them.

To bridge the funding gap, Meadow Brook Hall launched the 1929 Club, a grassroots fundraising initiative inviting supporters to donate $19.29 per month. Named after the year Meadow Brook Hall’s construction was completed, the club gained immediate traction. The first to make a commitment was Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan K. Barnett, a 1998 graduate of the OU School of Business Administration. “It was important to me to participate because I know how special this place is to the university and to the surrounding community,” says Barnett.

Barnett did more than donate. He rallied the community through television interviews, print media and his social media channels, reminding the public of Meadow Brook Hall’s importance. His connection to the estate runs deep. He served as student body president at OU and, as part of the student congress, took his first oath of elected office in the hall. He was also part of the small group that signed the founding agreement between Oakland University and the William Beaumont School of Medicine at the historical landmark.

The response was immediate. The 1929 Club reached its fundraising goal within a week. More than half of those who contributed were first-time donors to Meadow Brook Hall. “It was so wonderful to see the incredible community support so quickly for this local treasure,” says Barnett.

The restoration process itself helps explain the high cost. Richard Hanley, president and CEO of Omnibus Studios, described the painstaking effort to restore the windows. His studio — one of the few in the world capable of this work — sorted through shards of hand-blown European antique glass, reassembled designs from the etchings and photos, and recreated intricate painted details.

Each glass piece was hand-cut, painted, then fired in kilns at 1,200°F — often requiring multiple firings for line work and silver staining (an ancient technique to achieve the rich yellow tones found in the original windows). Some panels needed weeks of work just to replicate a single face or pattern. The lead used to hold the pieces together had to be custom-ordered in six different profiles from Georgia.
Hanley’s team, with decades of experience, also deployed weights and sandbags over several days to carefully compress the damaged windows back into shape. “It’s like a giant puzzle but one where the pieces are razor-sharp and irreplaceable and even a 1/32-inch gap is too much,” he explains.

Thanks to the IMLS grant, the generosity of new and returning donors, the dedication of Mayor Barnett and the craftsmanship of Omnibus Studios, the windows have now been reinstalled, standing once again as a symbol of Meadow Brook Hall’s enduring legacy and the community’s commitment to preserve it. As the 1929 Club continues to grow, funds are dedicated to the preservation and care of the Meadow Brook Hall collection, which is reflective of Oakland University’s beginnings and the achievements and philanthropy of Matilda Dodge Wilson.