While working on Cynthiana Christian Church, Cynthiana, Kentucky, The Durable Slate Company employees discovered a hidden message carved into a single slate shingle, tucked away by master slaters over a century ago.
%22%20transform%3D%22translate(1.6%201.6)%20scale(3.125)%22%20fill-opacity%3D%22.5%22%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23bcbcbc%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22rotate(-135.5%2043.3%2042.4)%20scale(38.87506%2096.1483)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23424242%22%20cx%3D%22234%22%20cy%3D%22143%22%20rx%3D%2256%22%20ry%3D%22117%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%23505050%22%20d%3D%22M225%2030l-28%2026%2011-44z%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%237e7e7e%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22rotate(-145.2%2071%2036.4)%20scale(19.82229%2059.67329)%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
VMF Oct. 10. 1916 %22%20transform%3D%22translate(1.2%201.2)%20scale(2.34375)%22%20fill-opacity%3D%22.5%22%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23aaa997%22%20cx%3D%22111%22%20cy%3D%22176%22%20rx%3D%22114%22%20ry%3D%2275%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%2300116c%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22rotate(-43.6%20167%20-270)%20scale(47.45682%20137.45028)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%231f1053%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22matrix(23.4504%2038.64275%20-145.06527%2088.03303%2038%2029)%22%2F%3E%3Cellipse%20fill%3D%22%23b8b8b8%22%20rx%3D%221%22%20ry%3D%221%22%20transform%3D%22rotate(77.6%20-40.8%20192.5)%20scale(47.53681%2032.22599)%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Cynthiana Christian Church
Carved into this tile were the initials VMF and a single date, October 10th, 1916. The source is unknown.
Cynthiana Christian Church was built in 1901 and underwent major renovations through 1948 - 1955. That it took a century to discover this master slater's contribution to history is yet another testament to the longevity (and lasting beauty) of slate roofs.
