Insulators Go To Church

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", June 1975, page 32

The two following items are reproduced from "Alberta Calls", biweekly publication of the Public Relations Department of Alberta Government Telephones, and are used with permission. (The first item is from the May 31, 1974 issue; and the second one is from the January 10, 1975 issue.) We think you will enjoy reading them.

Insulators Go To Church

"My grandchildren gave me the idea for the church," explains Mr. Zoeteman, who hopes to complete its construction this summer.

It all started when his grandchildren thought it would be a good idea if Bastian Zoeteman of Pincher Creek could build them a "little" church.

Well, several months and ten thousand telephone insulators later, Mr. Zoeteman is in sight of accomplishing his grandchildren's wish.

"The children saw a miniature church near Cowley, Alberta, and thought we should build one along the same lines", explained the retired Pincher Creek businessman. After it was decided they would "build", Mr. Zoeteman and the children were faced with their first hurdle -- what type of construction would be utilized.

I had seen several structures made from glass bottles, and since AGT was dismantling open wire lines in the area, I decided a telephone insulator structure would be unique", commented the miniature church builder.

Following a letter to AGT's South Construction Department, Mr. Zoeteman soon had enough insulators for the project. "AGT donated the insulators, and it wasn't too long before I had the children busy collecting them from the downed lines", explained Mr. Zoeteman as he prepared a building block mold.

Completing final touches on a window mold for the church.

Each cement building block contains 25 insulators and is fifteen inches square. Clear insulators are used for wall panels, while the windows, corners, and cross will be made from green insulators. The molds required to form the blocks were designed and built by Mr. Zoeteman.

When completed, the church will measure 8' x 8' x 14' and will house an appropriate sized pulpit along with indoor-outdoor carpet. The church is built on a specially constructed 12 inch "I" beam foundation which will allow easy movement to its final home. At present, the church's future home is undecided; however, Mr. Zoeteman insists the home will be on a donation basis.

Once the church is completed, Mr. Zoeteman, who is 70, hopes to begin construction on a "little" country school house and a telephone insulator fountain. Further church construction details will be reported in future issues of "Alberta Calls".

Church Moved To New Site

Church made entirely of telephone insulators. Our cover shows the unique little church being moved to its permanent site in Pincher Creek. --Pincher Creek Echo photos.

Bastian Zoeteman beamed with pride on December 13th as he watched Don Afdahl, Marshall Carney and John Hargreaves of AGT (South) Construction move his "insulator church" to a permanent location adjacent to the United Church in Pincher Creek.

During the past eight months the retired businessman has built a remarkable miniature church using over 7,000 glass telephone insulators. Using insulators donated by AGT and special cement molds of his own design, Mr. Zoeteman has constructed a church measuring 8' x 8' x 14'.

Clear insulators were used for the wall panels while the windows and corners were made from green insulators. The interior of the church features six small pews constructed by the builder along with an insulator pulpit and indoor/outdoor carpeting.

At present the builder is placing the "bell tower" on the unique church which is open to the public.