Category: Divine Stone

Jose M. Tapia, Sr. Our Friend and Colleague, Please Rest In Peace, Your Work On Earth Is Done.

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Leading up to April 19, 1911 at the Cathedral, several milestones have taken place. Some of these were engineering feats never seen previously. Much was accomplished in those 18 years.

1893 – Excavation Begins

Building the Massive Granite Foundations and Piers

1899 – Services Begin in the Crypt

1899 – Great Eastern Arch is Finished

1901 – Belmont Chapel (St. Savior) is Underway

1903 -Installation of the Eight Monumental Granite Columns

1903 – Fundraising Push

1904 – First Use of Mohegan Golden Granite on the Walls of the Choir and the Apse.

1906 – King Chapel (Chapel of St. Columba) is Underway

1907 – George Heins, architect, partner in the firm Heins & LaFarge, dies, voiding the contract between the firm and the Cathedral. The Trustees retain Grant LaFarge to complete Crossing, Choir and High Altar.

1908 – Bishop Henry Codman Potter Dies. He led the effort to build the Cathedral from the laying of the cornerstone.

1908 Installation of The Guastavino tile ceiling and roof over the Choir completed.

1909 Temporary Guastavino Dome over Crossing is complete

1909 to 1911 – The Completion of Interior Stone Work on the Choir and Chancel

The Consecration on April 19, 1911 at the Cathedral concludes the first phase of construction. The foundations for the Nave would begin in 1916. World War I and the lack of funds caused it to stop. The laying of the Cornerstone for the Nave will not happen until 1925. A month after the Consecration, the Trustees dismiss architect LaFarge. Immediately, they install Ralph Adams Cram as consulting architect.

On the left, the eastern end of the Cathedral as seen from Morningside Drive. On the right, the western end of the Crossing walled in. The Nave will begin at this point more than a decade later.

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• The majority of the images shown here are from the Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, New York Public Library, unless otherwise noted.

We have finished year two of the Divine Stone blog. We are looking back at the last year and looking forward to the stories for the next year. Twenty new stories relating to the stone work on the Cathedral of St. John the Divine were posted in the last year. These, along with the first 52 stories, can all be accessed through our archives. Divine Stone’s second anniversary is a time for us to reflect on the 100 plus years of stone work embodied in this wonderful Cathedral.

Looking Back

Last year we predicted a certain number of stories we were going to be posting. Some of them we got to, others we’re still looking forward to finishing. As the late Mary Bloom told me; “Sorry for the delay, but life got in the way.” Barbara and I moved from our perch high above Barton Creek in Austin to a little spot next to the Santa Fe River in Northern New Mexico. You can connect to last year’s predictions HERE.

Going Forward

There will always be stories from the Dean Morton era stoneyard and the Southwest Tower. We also want to get a perspective from David Zatz, blacksmith and tool-maker. The Nave construction will be reviewed as well as some carvers from the 1930’s and 1940’s.

During the last year we were privileged to connect with two experts currently at the Cathedral – Wayne Kempton, Archivist and Tom Fedorek, Senior Guide. We thank them for their support and contributions. Mark continues to work a broad agenda of national magazine articles and discussions with individuals about grant money for travel and research. He also has had discussions with a screenwriter very interested in the story and she suggested bringing the idea to Lin-Manuel Miranda of Broadway fame whose birthplace was Spanish Harlem. Mark keeps finding things for us to dream about.

We always welcome our readers’ comments, guest authors and storytellers.

As always, please stay safe,

Roger Murphy & Mark Saxe

Jose Tapia, friend and co-worker of so many at the stoneyard of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is in hospice care. His family is close by. Many of his associates at the Cathedral have posted their memories and appreciation to their friend, Jose, in these “Letters to Jose” along with photos supplied by Robert Rodriguez.

Back in The Day …

Jose always stood out as a genuine person. There was an innocent earnestness about him that would quickly put people at ease. He was generally an easy going individual, but would let you know when you were out of line. He was charismatic and friendly, but direct in his instruction.

When he was cutting stone his concentration level was all-consuming. He was a hard worker who would lose himself in the stone work. Naturally gifted at working with his hands, people often stood and watched Jose’s skillful chiseling technique. He was a no-nonsense stone cutter. He cut stone with an unhurried ease, and his finished work stood apart in its quality and grace.

Jose was also generous with his knowledge, and on hand to instruct those willing to work hard and learn. He was very patient which was a gift in this arduous trade, and his general knowledge of the workings of the stone yard was valued, and depended upon. Jose would often give helpful advice to the new sawyers, or anyone who needed guidance.

Aside from his stone cutting skills, he also had a steady hand in the construction of the tower:

Jose,

You were probably the most productive out of all of us at the Stone Yard, not only in cutting stones but setting them too. From the first day up on the tower you were all business and it was soon clear that fixing as many stones as quickly as possible was your aim and you were most successful in accomplishing that. You took great pride in your work at the Cathedral and rightly so.

One of my favorite memories is when you boasted that gablet springer with your 1/2″ chisel. That stone stood boldly apart from the others which had the standard 2″ tool marks and it looked fantastic though I was unsure how the master builder would receive it: as it turned out, his eyebrows were indeed raised but the stone made its way up to its place on the tower. You certainly left your mark on the cathedral and your colleagues, and your contributions to the Stone Yard and Tower are invaluable.

-Steve Boyle

Jose,

If it wasn’t for you, I don’t think I would have stayed that long at the yard.

It was with your help that I was able to build up my confidence and perseverance. Remember Jose when I purchased that Dodge Dart with a slant 6 engine? My very first car. I think at the time you had the LeMans, the mistress on the street you would say.

One day Betsy (my Dodge) wouldn’t start but I remembered what you told me to do in that case. Place the screwdriver against the firewall and the poquito to start old Betsy up. And I have to say that my friends were all very impressed. Funny though now I know it’s called the starter. You have always been a kind and gentle person, always the first to reach out to help someone with anything.

-Poni Baptiste

Jose,

When I came off of the saw and first started cutting, with mallet and chisel, you took me under your wing and showed me how to use the pneumatic hammer (gun). You were generous with your tools and really pushed me forward. I had struggled mightily up to that point and, because of your encouragement, finally felt that I was moving forward as a stone cutter, part of the team.  You pulled me out of a rut.  Later, Bambridge took me off the gun and put a mallet back in my hand, so I went back to struggling, but at least I had the much needed self- confidence to forge ahead – due to your patient guidance.  I’ll always appreciate the ladder you lowered down to me.

-Joseph Kincannon

My Uncle Jose

I can’t remember how old exactly, maybe around 6. He was a very young child, along with his brother. They came from P.R. to NYC to live with their aunt (my dad’s mother) because his parents had died from a car accident, 

 My dad said that my uncle was into a lot of things in his younger years: 

He was a good swimmer. He was really into baseball. He has a passion for music and loved DJing at special events. He passed it onto his son. He also loved flying birds ever since he was a young boy. He would go up to the roof and fly and train pigeons.

He was always good with his hands and always loved construction and building homes, building whatever he could be handy with.

Jose has always been into having and maintains his huge fish tanks. He would love to watch them for hours. He had all types of fish. Especially, his piranhas. He loved those things.”

-Angela Garcia (Daughter of Angel Escobar) 

Hello Jose,

I have been thinking so often of the Stoneyard group at the Cathedral. Such a wonderful company of men and women with wonderful skills which Jim Morton admired so much.  He was devoted to you and the Work you did from the very beginning.
Here we all are these many years later and how great it is that all of you keep in touch. I am honored that I am included in the group!  And I am sending you many wishes for good days in North Carolina and all my affectionate greetings,    

-Pamela Morton

Dear Jose,

We so recently got back in touch, it was wonderful to have contact again and know that some relationships endure. You were a leader at the stone yard. I admired you and felt that you had my back, for whatever reason. With love.

-Amy Brier

For Jose

When I was accepted as an apprentice, Jose was the first person to embrace me. He was like a little brother. I was extremely nervous but he kept telling me I would do well.
If I wasn’t certain about something he was there to guide me. I would observe how he cut stones, and I tell you, it was like magic! One minute there was a giant piece of stone, and the next minute, it was like a beautiful figure had formed. 
He is one of the best people I know. He is also a great family man. The love Jose showed for his wife and son was that of a proud man. He used to bring them to work from time to time. 
Now Jose was not without laughter. Sometimes if I became frustrated, he would laugh but then he would help me out because there was no room for errors, in the Stone Yard. 

-Carol Hazel

For Jose,

When Dean Morton set out to build the tower, 
he was also building a community; 
Jose rose to the challenge on both counts. 
He was the keystone of the stone yard,
without his dedication, hard work and generosity, 
that arch would have failed. 
He was the rock that we all leaned on.
In our innocence, we were all brothers building a Cathedral; 
and I was happy to call him – FRIEND. 

— Nick Fairplay

For Jose,

You get what you give. So I always wished that Jose’s kindness, patience, and respect that he showed to all his apprentices would come back to him tenfold. God bless you, man

-Joe Chiffriller

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The Divine Stone Project has had occasion over the last two years to post several times about Jose and his work. We also have been the grateful recipient of his efforts to bring his colleagues in touch with us. Thank you Jose for all your contributions. Below are some links to other posts involving Jose.

• Apprentice Graduation
• The First Five Stones
• The Starting Five
• 40 years Ago

The Compass Rose is located on the pavement of the Choir. It is the official emblem of the Worldwide Anglican Communion. This iteration of the emblem in stone and brass was designed by John Barton in the late 1980’s. John was an architect at the Cathedral and received his Masters in Religion from Yale University.

Various similar Compass Roses are installed in many churches including the Cathedral Church of Christ Canterbury, England and in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Paul (National Cathedral) in Washington, D.C. The center of the Compass Rose contains the cross of St. George. The text surrounding the central cross is in Greek. It translates as: “The truth will set you free.” The points of a compass reflect the spread of the Anglican Christianity throughout the world. The mitre at the top indicates the role of Episcopacy and Anglican Order that is the heart of the traditions of the Churches of the Communion. The emblem was originally designed by Canon Edward West of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York.

Canon Edward West

The Rev. Dr. Edward Nason West (1909-1990) was a theologian, an author, an internationally known iconographer, an expert in the design of church furnishings, and an authority on liturgical art. As Canon Sacrist he presided over and organized all ceremonies large and small for more than 40 years. His ashes lie below the Compass Rose. The Archbishop of Canterbury dedicated the Compass Rose on September 20, 1992.

“At the service, Dean Morton told a story about the time he asked Canon West where he’d like his final resting place to be. West, who served under five different bishops at the cathedral, replied ‘Just put me where the bishops can still walk all over me.’ So there he lies where the grand liturgical processions he was so skilled at orchestrating do, in fact, walk all over him.”

– Tom Fedorek, Senior Guide

The Pavement

Unique stones from around the world make up the Choir pavement. The risers of the steps leading from the Crossing to the Choir are of yellow Numidian marble (Algiers and Tunis) and the treads of green Pennsylvanian marble. The style of the pavement of the Choir is Romanesque and Byzantine. It contains inlays with Numidian, Swiss and other marbles and Grueby Faience tiles. The steps to the Presbytery are marble from Hauteville, France.

In the center of the floor of the Presbytery is a beautiful mosaic “rug” of tiles and stones. It is 32 1/2 feet long and 10 feet wide with smaller patterns at the ends. Black Belgian marble surrounded by Italian violet marble created the central oval. This is now the placement for the Compass Rose. Grueby tiles of many colors and Grecian, red Numidian and other marbles form the rest of the design.

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• John Barton, AIA
• New York Times, Jan 5, 1990, Edward West, Retired Canon And Author, 80
• Guide to the Cathedral, Hall, 1928
• Tom Fedorek, Senior Guide, Cathedral of St. John the Divine.