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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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Window

Building Name: First Presbyterian Church

Studio Name: Tiffany Studios

City: Ypsilanti

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1899

Subject/Title of Window: Pardee Memorial

Brief Description of Subject: Doric columns are pictured on the sides as if holding up the top part of the window. These columns are in harmony with the façade which is in the Grecian Doric style. The center contains a roundel depicting a reddish sky. This reminds one of a well known adage repeated by Christ in Matthew 16: 1 - 3 (KJV):
"The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?"

From the booklet, "Our Memorial Windows: A Brief Description of the Memorial Windows in the Sanctuary of The First Presbyterian Church, Ypsilanti, Michigan," by Doris Milliman, City Historian, page 14-15.

The Pardee Window
Ario Pardee
October 14, 1778 - August 13, 1853
Eliza Platt Pardee
April 9, 1781 - August 23, 1848

Ario Pardee holds the distinction of having the earliest birth date of all the people honored on our Church windows. His full name is Arioistis Pardee and he was born in Stevenstown, New York. He was the son of Calvin and Rachel (Johnson) Pardee. On June 23, 1802, he married Elizabeth Betsy Platt, who was born in Beckmantown, New York. She was the daughter of Captain Israel and Abigail (Scudder) Platt.

Six children were born into this family: Mary Ann, Caroline Eliza, Juliet, Arioistis, Sara Maria, and Rachel Johnson. Mary Ann was born in Stevenson, New York, on August 5, 1803, and married William R. Post there. William and Mary Ann came to Ypsilanti in 1833, and immediately joined our Church. On April 19, 1834, they presented their infant daughter, Eliza Pardee, for baptism. William was elected an elder on November 24, 1835, and served actively on the Session for many years. Mary Ann died on February 29, 1888.

Ario and Eliza Pardee's second daughter, Caroline Eliza, is honored on the second window to the right. Two other daughters, Juliet and Sara Maria, are honored on the window to the right. All we know about their son, Arioistis, is that he was born on November 19, 1810, Chatham, New York. Rachel Johnson was born on March 3, 1816, and married a Mr. Hammond.

When Ario was almost 55 and his wife was 52, they and their family moved to Ypsilanti in June 1833. The Norris Letter of March 11, 1842, on file in the Archives of the Ypsilanti Historical Museum, indicates that they came from Peru, New York. They were part of that vast migration of people to the west, which was encouraged by the opening of the Erie Canal.

From 1832-1837, Ario Pardee served as treasurer of the Village of Ypsilanti. He owned and operated a store on the south side of Michigan Avenue between Huron and Washington Streets. The family lived in the apartment over the store, which is still visible from the rear.

The Pardee family is buried in Highland Cemetery (Block 31). Ario Pardee's picture is in the Pardee file at the Archivess of the Ypsilanti Historical Museum. There is a Pardee book by Dr. L. Jacobs in the Buron Historical Society Collection of the Detroit Public Library.

Ario and Eliz Pardee represent the courageous and faithful pioneers who establishe Ypsilanti, its stores, and churches, during the 1820's and 1830's. We do not know the significance of the date of 1834 on the window.

Inscriptions: In Memoriam
Ario Pardee
Eliza Platt Pardee
1834


Condition of Window: Very good

Height: 6'

Width: 3'

Type of Glass and Technique: Opalescent Glass, Lead Came

Pardee Memorial
Pardee Memorial
Pardee Memorial inscription
Pardee Memorial inscription
Memorial Windows 11, 13, 12
Memorial Windows 11, 13, 12
Pardee Memorial outside
Pardee Memorial outside

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