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Unstable Church Steeple Removed from Avondale Church

By Darryl Holliday | November 20, 2013 8:24am
 Video captured by next door neighbors shows the wobbly steeple before its removal Tuesday night.
Video captured by next door neighbors shows the wobbly steeple before its removal Tuesday night.
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DNAinfo/Darryl Holliday

AVONDALE — Construction crews removed an unstable church steeple Tuesday night after it was seen swaying in the wind Sunday. 

The steeple atop Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church at 2645 W. Belmont Ave was a visitor attraction as neighbors returned to their front lawns to watch the wobbly church structure being taken down.

Several of the steeple's beams were dislodged in the weekend storm.

Authorities closed roads when they were alerted the steeple may become disconnected from the church, causing traffic delays in the Avondale neighborhood Monday. Residents across the street from the steeple captured video of its movement during the high winds Sunday night. 

The steeple swung toward the east and west, at times reaching near the 11 o'clock position on a clock, according to Jesse Alejos, whose townhome is among those closest to the church.

"You could see it going back and forth," Alejos said. "We were all pretty nervous. If the wind took it it could have fallen."

Alejos and several friends watched construction crews prepare the steeple for removal Sunday night. The group's home association holds its meetings in the church, they said.

Membership has declined in the church recently, but Alejos said he hopes money to replace the steeple can be found.