Progress - Archive

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

September 2008 - Restoration crew understakes brick and mortar work

Reprinted courtesy of The Grinnell-Herald Register September 22, 2008. The extreme winter of 2007-2008 followed by excessive rainfall this past spring have necessitated emergency repairs of the southern L-shaped Iowa Transportation Museum building on the grounds of the old Spaulding buggy factory. The Renaissance Restoration crew was on-site last week carefully performing damage control on the brick facade of he targeted building. Renaissance working superintendent Ralph Brown said at some point in its venerable history, the building had been re-tuckpointed with mortar that was to stiff.

To see the complete story, go to ARTCLES.

February 2008 - ITM gets $750 grant, public meeting Feb. 19, 08

Repinted courtesy of The Grinnell-Herald Register January 17, 2008. Charels R. "Chuck" Brooke, a lifelong resident of the Grinnell area, has been named executive director of the Iowa Transportation Museum. He began working full-time in his new role effective January 1, 2008. Brooke succeeds John Swanson, who has served as executive director of the project since 2003. The announcement about Brooke was accompanied by a series of others from the ITM board: that the project has been awarded a $750,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation's Statewide Transportation Enhancement Fund: that plans for the design of the facility's interior exhibiion space will be presented at a public meeting here on Tuesday, Feb. 19, and that the board will be launching a campaign this spring to raise $1 million locally toward the project 

To see complete story, go to ARTICLES.

May 2006 - Administration Building Stabilized 

On May 11, 2005 about 25% of the Administration Building roof collased; the result of heavy rain and years of neglect. A thorough inspection reveled no structural damage had occurred, and with that assurance the Iowa DOT gave us permission for an early start on stabilization. The building was immedately braced with scaffolding of all three levels, cleaned out and the rest of the roof removed. Brickwork damaged from the collapse, as well as the total parapet section was rebuilt. Steel beams and trusses now replace the original wooden roof; with a new roof membrane scheduled for completion by mid-January. We have sufficient funding in hand to also begin interior restoration and window replacement as well. When restored, it will open as a Welcome Center incuding museum exhibits, meeting/conference space, museum store and a start on the Research Library.

October 2004 - Tuckpointing
A "Tuckpointing Ceremony" saluting the start of restoration for the Spaulding Center for Transportation was held October 22. "Considering the buildings are already there and date from the1890’s, it just didn’t seem right to call it a groundbreaking," said Executive Director John Swanson. It was a great turnout and an opportunity for many to see what has already been accomplished.



PROJECT UPDATE

September 2004 Eureka! Spaulding Auto heads
home at last
A 1913 Spaulding touring car will return home to Grinnell later this month. Well, 60 percent of a Spaulding motor car to be precise.

It is in pieces and will require extensive restoration which could cost $75,000. But to representatives of the Iowa Transportation Museum, the long-sought Spaulding -- more complete than any known to exist -- is purely "priceless".

The Spaulding Company which, in its heyday, at the turn of the last century produced 10,000 buggies a year and was Poweshiek County's largest employer manufactured just 1,481 automobiles from 1910 to 1916.

 

Extensive research failed to locate a model more complete than this one contained in a set of boxes which, for the time being, will be placed in secure storage.

To view complete article, click here.

 

September 2004 Building Stabilization Underway
In mid-September construction crews began the process of building stabilization at the Spaulding site. This is the first step in making the buildings tight, dry and safe to use. With funds already acquired we are concentrating on roof and wall repairs. When completed, 90% of the 125,000 square feet of usable space will be protected from further water damage.

As part of our master planning process the decision was made to address the most critical building stabilization issues and then beginning restoring and developing the buildings in the following sequence

1. Administration Building, ultimately to be a Conference-Welcome Center plus housing the Gift Shop, offices and portions of the Research Library

2. East Building, to be the primary site(s) for the Museum and the Restoration Laboratory

3. West Building, designated a multi-purpose site kept flexible to permit long-term growth potential for the museum. In the short-term it will include a mix of commercial and non-commercial activities. Income producing areas would include extended-stay lodging suites and archival storage space for other organizations.

The next phase of constructiuon, preservation and development of the Administration Building is scheduled to begin in January 2005.