WATERLOO, Wis. (AP) -- Workers are repairing the 128-year-old clock tower at the Waterloo Area Historical Society Museum.
A crew from Menomonee Falls-based Statz Restoration and Engineering has been working for the past three weeks to repair the brick and mortar of the clock tower, the Wisconsin State Journal (http://bit.ly/2fhWXjr ) reported. The brick on the tower that was built in 1888 has been crumbling.
Jim Reynolds, a member of the historical society, said it has been over a year since mortar and small pieces of bricks were discovered at the base of the church's stone foundation and front stoop.
There was brief talk of removing the clock tower, but officials said the structure is too important to the city.
About $45,000 of the estimated $55,000 needed for the restoration project has been raised. Historical society president Maureen Giese said another $30,000 to $40,000 would be ideal so the remainder of the historic church building's brick work can be repaired.
The restoration crew is using bricks likely made in Watertown or Milwaukee more than 100 years ago and salvaged from old buildings. The project also includes tuck pointing, cleaning of dirt from the existing bricks, rehabbing and painting the wood-louvered vents.
Jared Crocker, a Statz Restoration employee, said the team will bring the tower back to life.
"She needs some work," Crocker said. "It's weathered up there but for being over 100 years old, it's definitely one of the better buildings I've worked on. You don't see them in this good of shape, especially with the weather we get."
