Winter not slowing down Landmark renovations

One of the area's most-followed building renovations continues to progress as the new year approaches.

Last week, workers with Sangiolo and Baker Masonry of Marissa were rehabilitating the more than 180-year-old Landmark building's south wall. Ron Stork, owner of general contractor Ron's Construction, told reporters that workers were fixing structural posts and beams that had rotted.

While workers scuttled back and forth along their building-wide scaffolding attached to the side of the Landmark, Stork noted that the bricks being removed would be cleaned and then reinstalled after the repairs were made.

"We're trying as much as possible to leave everything intact," he said.

Stork said the areas on the second floor that were covered with white insulation, and were previously windows, will become fake shutters instead.

Stork took reporters on an impromptu tour of the building's interior and made note of what will be a modern kitchen to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and state building codes.

"There's nothing worse in a restaurant than a kitchen with an improper layout," he said.

Plumbing will also be brand new throughout the entire building, which will have zoned areas for heating and air conditioning. Stork said the first floor common areas will have two zones, with two upstairs and a separate one for the kitchen.

"There's some modern touches, but yet, still some of the original work," he said.

St. Nicholas Brewing Company President Tom Welge expressed optimism on the pace of renovations.

"It's continuing to go well," he said. "Mainly good progress, no show-stoppers."

Welge recently shared some photos on Facebook of items recovered from the building's attic, including boarding room doors, old pictures, antique bottles, a wagon wheel and other artifacts from the Landmark's history.

"We're going to repurpose those in the building," Welge said, referring to the boarding room doors.

Welge said as part of the application process to host the tank-landing ship USS LST 325 in September, he stated his intention to have the St. Nicholas Landmark open in time for that event.

"We intend to stick by our word on that," he said.