Restore the Bridge Street Signal Tower

[MQT1223]

Tower has been prepped for its big lift tomorrow! For those of you who don't follow the Facebook page, further prep work will ensue starting around 8 am, with the tower's cabin being lifted an hour later at 9 am. The cabin will then be trucked roughly a block north to where it will be rebuilt over a period of a month.

I will be on site documenting the lift. Hope to see some of you there!

[PM1946]

Step one of the restoration has begun. There are a couple of great historic pics in the article.
http://www.mlive.com/business/west-mich ... river_home

[MQT1223]

WZZM 13 and Fox 17 also have done articles. They were out at the tower today.

[PM1946]

Any word or pics on how the restoration is coming? Judging from the pics of the structure when it was resting on a flatbed, it looked like it would be a time and $ intensive project.

[MQT1223]

Any word or pics on how the restoration is coming? Judging from the pics of the structure when it was resting on a flatbed, it looked like it would be a time and $ intensive project.

Word yes, pics ATM no. The cabin is finally starting to get torn apart. No word on whether or not it's salvageable yet. Most of the time in between the lift and now was spent on getting quotes. The steel superstructure got a quote to get coated in Rust-Bullet paint. The foundation above the ground is supposed to get a facelift too.

[J T]

I haven't read back through the thread, so I suppose this has already been mentioned, but what company is doing the restoration?

[MQT1223]

I haven't read back through the thread, so I suppose this has already been mentioned, but what company is doing the restoration?

Rockford Construction

[MQT1223]

If your a Trains Magazine subscriber, take a look. We are an EXCLUSIVE story today!

Personally looked at the tower on Monday. The progress is outstanding. All of the work is custom. Frame was in good shape. All exterior and interior wood minus some near the roofline is being fabricated and replaced. The floor was found to be braced with railroad ties and was very solid. The original window weights were found in the walls, and the cabin is found to be ORIGINAL. It was not heavily rebuilt in the 80's as previously thought. All of the rotted wood removed was found to be rough cut timber, which means it most likely came from a local sawmill. Roof work is being done as we speak and the paint scheme will be selected by the end of the week!

If you haven't followed the progress I suggest you should!

[J T]

I haven't read back through the thread, so I suppose this has already been mentioned, but what company is doing the restoration?

Rockford Construction

Say hello to Becky for me.

[MQT1223]

Tower Unveiling will be on November 14th starting at 4:00 PM, with the official unveiling occurring about a half out after the event has started!

[EWRice]

A few weeks ago I drove past the intersection this tower sits at. I was impressed at how the tower was built using rail, with joint bars, and bending the rails over 90 degrees at the top to make a platform for the "cabin". I love vintage engineering.

[MQT1223]

A few weeks ago I drove past the intersection this tower sits at. I was impressed at how the tower was built using rail, with joint bars, and bending the rails over 90 degrees at the top to make a platform for the "cabin". I love vintage engineering.

Ya its built very rugged. It would take quite a bit to knock it down for sure.

[MQT1223]

Tower is up but under wraps...

[MQT1223]

One day left! Unveil is tomorrow with the festivities starting at 4:00 PM. Be there!

[MQT1223]

http://woodtv.com/2016/11/14/renovated- ... -unveiled/

http://fox17online.com/2016/11/14/iconi ... nd-rapids/

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/ ... ailro.html

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/grand- ... /351905750