Tower repair begins at courthouse

Preparations have begun for the scheduled reinstallation of the Nodaway County Courthouse clock tower cupola later this week.

Crews from Lawhon Construction Co. of St. Joseph blocked the northbound lane of Main Street on the square Monday and sent workers aloft in a large metal bucket to effect repairs to decorative sheet metal damaged in last summer's hail storm.

The work proceeded despite a stiff southerly wind with gusts of around 25 mph.

In addition to metal and stonework, the hail storm also damaged the courthouse cupola so badly that it had to be removed and trucked back to Campbellsville, Ky., where it was made, for repairs. The cupola is a modern-materials reproduction of the original tower roof that earlier succumbed to 130 years of exposure to the elements.

Workers will also replace the north-facing clock face, which was chipped and pock-marked by marble-sized hail last August.

The cupola has not yet arrived in Maryville but is scheduled to get here sometime this week.

Installing the steeply-gabled roof will likely require closure of both lanes of Main Street between Third and Fourth streets sometime between now and Friday, when, weather permitting, the work should be complete.

Weather could be a problem, since gusting winds of up to 35 mph are predicted for today with forecasters calling for scattered thunderstorms the rest of the week.

Presiding Commissioner Robert Schieber said earlier that the five-day work schedule was likely "worst case," and that the job could take less time providing the weather cooperates.

Replacement of the cupola will bring an end to a two-year courthouse renovation that included installation of a new handicap-accessible elevator, creation of a third courtroom, new interior painting and woodwork and the repair of exterior stonework and ornamental window dividers.