ALTARPIECE

Description: SQUARE PIECE OF WHITE MARBLE STONE HAS STRAIGHT CUT LINES AND CARVED DECORATIONS ON FACE. HAS CROSS IN EACH CORNER AND ONE IN CENTER. BETWEEN BOTTOM TWO CROSSES IN MIDDLE IS CIRCULAR PLUG SEALED SHUT. STONE HAS BLACK AND BROWN STREAKS THROUGH IT.

History: ALTAR STONE WAS REMOVED FROM THE CHAPEL AT ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL BEFORE THE HOSPITAL WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1996. FOR MORE HISTORY ON HOSPITAL SEE P19960116001-GA. ALTARPIECE IS SET INTO ALTAR. *UPDATE* IN 2010, NICOLE HEMBROFF, COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF PALLET RACKING. SHE MET WITH JAKOB MARTENS WHO SET THE ALTARPIECE INTO THE ALTAR. SEE BELOW. MARTENS WAS ASKED TO INSTALL THE ALTARPIECE BECAUSE HE HAD MADE A VANITY FOR A WOMAN (HE COULDN'T RECALL HER NAME). SHE LIKED HIS WORK AND RECOMMENDED HIM FOR THE JOB. ACCORDING TO MARTENS, HE WAS NOT PAID FOR HIS WORK. HE DID IT TO HELP OUT THE HOSPITAL, WHICH WAS LOVED BY BOTH HIM AND THE PUBLIC. MARTENS CLAIMS THE CIRCLE IN THE ALTAR STONE WOULD LIKELY HOLD THE ASHES OF A SAINT OR RELIC. DURING MASS THE ALTARPIECE WOULD HAVE HELD THE SACRED HOST AND THE CHALICE.