October 31, 2006

Wayne York - Lock One Restoration Project

Wayne York, New Bremen Village Administrator, addressed the club to give an update on the Lock Ones Restoration Project in uptown New Bremen.  He indicated that as of this date, the West Walls of the lock were installed and the East wall was in process with about 1/2 of the bypass completed.  He shared that the original lock area was wider but it would impinge heavily on parking near the library.

The last major renovation took place in 1910 and there have been various artifacts recovered during the recent demolition of the old lock structure.  He brought samples of these artifacts which were passed around for the club members to inspect.  These included glass wear, an old cup, a Blob-top bottle dated prior to the Civil War from the J. Born Mineral Water Company in Cincinnati, a Dr. Miles Restorative Nervine bottle and a Wagner & Sons Brewing Company bottle.  Various other hardware pieces were also recovered and there is ongoing discussion to determine where some of these pieces will be kept.

As of this time, it is expected that the heavy construction is completed by early December.  Next, a landscape architect is to be hired to layout the new landscape for the dual parking lot areas adjacent to the lock.   It is expected that the project will be completed by the 4th of July, 2007.

As additional work is being done on the canal to improve the embankments heading South from the lock area, other historic pieces have been unearthed including large pieces of a canal boat keel.  As the improvements are made on the embankments, the last having been done in 1979, it is expected that they will provide at least a 25 year life before additional work is needed.

Hosting Rotarian: Diane Gast