Convent to test replacement windows that match heritage guidelines

Nuns at a historic St. Johns convent will test windows that are easy to open and meet heritage guidelines.

Presentation Convent in St. Johns. Photo by Keith Gosse/The Telegram

Last month, Coun. Jonathan Galgay announced that nuns at the 161-year-old Presentation Sisters Mother House had requested replacement windows that open horizontally to replace ones that open vertically, which are harder for the nuns all of whom are older than 70 to open.

Coun. Dave Lane, co-chairman of the citys heritage advisory committee, said Tuesday the committee long ago gave the green light to replacing the windows.

They had specifically requested horizontal sliders because, of all the windows they have in the building many are old, and many were installed improperly the only ones that open easily are horizontal sliders.

The committee rejected the type of replacement window requested because it didnt match the heritage style of the building, but suggested another type, such as an awning-style window that opens with a crank at the bottom, that would still meet the guidelines.

What we were going to do anyway, and (what) weve done since, is met with the Presentation Sisters. We looked at all the windows and we actually went out to two local manufacturers and brought in examples of awning windows to show that the newer technology is actually very easy to open, said Lane.

The latches are down low, and theres very little effort required to open and close them.

A couple of windows will be installed in the building for testing, said Lane.

If it works, then theyll install the rest of them, he said.

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Convent to test replacement windows that match heritage guidelines