Major improvement projects in 2002 were the renovation
of the old brick patio area between the museum and the summer kitchen and the
installation of a new 44” wide brick sidewalk on the north and east sides of
the museum leading up to the new patio, all for a total cost of about $3,500
(including $752 for extra matching new bricks for the sidewalk.)By using this sidewalk and the rear entrance
of the museum, the first floor is now handicapped-accessible.
Many a night was spent tearing up the old brick patio
and power washing the bricks so that we could re-use the good ones in the new
patio. Concrete retainers were then poured for the new sidewalks and patio.
Tearing up the old brick patio
Barely recognizable are Carl Roediger, Jay
Stauffer, Phyllis Cox, Jerry Brown, Joyce Holdren, Dru Meyer.On the right are Susie Hirschfeld and Rev.
Holmer.
[Photos above
were provided by Gen Conradi]
More Patio Renovation Photos
Brick patio before renovation
New drainage tile & concrete retainers
New brick patio
New patio & sidewalk behind museum
[The air conditioner was installed in July 1998.]
New patio looking north
The
outdoor oven shed (at left) was scraped, washed and painted in the summer of
2002 by some of the trustees.
Pictures
by Lucille Francis, Towpath Editor
NewSidewalks – Museum is
now handicapped-accessible!
Making a new sidewalk north of the museum
Concrete retainers poured for new sidewalk
behind and north of the museum
Bricklaying begun for new sidewalk
Our new sidewalk north of the museum!
Special thanks to Rodney Brandt of
Lewistown, Ohio and his helper who donated their labor plus the stone and sand
for the brick patio and sidewalks, including the new brick walkway to the
outdoor oven.
Thanks also to the Village of New Bremen for the removal of
a tree near the back property line, as well as for the use of some equipment
associated with the patio renovation project and the outdoor light post, which
is to be installed near the new patio.
The old
village gas light fixture that had been donated to the museum by Ray Luedeke
was refurbished and placed in the back yard of our museum near the summer
kitchen on a light pole that had been abandoned by the village.It was electrified and given a
light-sensitive timer.
vvvvvvvvvv
PROJECTS FOR 2003
The American
Legion Post #241 has agreed to help with the lighting and re-decorating of our
military room on the 2nd floor of the museum.
We have asked the
Bremenfest Committee for help towards a new roof for our museum.This project could cost as much as $10,000
or more.You can help by making a
donation marked for this project.We
look forward to your support and hope we will not have to take out a loan to
cover cash flow as we did in 2002.
