Oakland University's Meadow Brook Hall, a historical beacon in the community, suffered an act of vandalism earlier this week. As reported by The Detroit News, an individual damaged one of the hall's historic stained glass windows. The incident, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday, was captured by security cameras.
Meadow Brook Hall Executive Director Bill Matt conveyed the distress the vandalism has caused to the staff, volunteers, and community visitors. "This is a very distressing situation for all of us at Meadow Brook Hall," he said, per The Detroit News. Officials have yet to discern a concrete estimate for the repair costs due to the windows' antiquity but stress the value of the damaged items goes beyond monetary worth. Oakland University Police Department is actively seeking information from the public. Tips can be directed to (248) 370-3331 or emailed to [email protected].
According to FOX 2 Detroit, the suspect tried to break in through a window, damaging the stained glass estimated to be around $30,000. However, as Randy Engle, a professor at OU, mentioned in the same report, "everything here is one of a kind," indicating the loss of something that can't be simply replicated.
Fortunately, Meadow Brook Estate had proactively received a grant directed at refurbishing the aforementioned windows. "It’s already back at the conservation studio in Muskegon, and it's being repaired as we speak," Matt told FOX 2 Detroit. Restoration is expected to be completed by April 1. In the interim, the windows have been replaced with plexiglass panels to protect the ballroom's interior.
