St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ida Under Repair
It's been a while since a fire seriously damaged the historic brick St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ida last summer. But the insurance company has finally agreed to pay for the repairs, the building is being restored to its former condition.
The general contractor is O&S Construction out of Toledo, Ohio. Dave Ostachnowicz said that the building will be ready for the plasterers in about two weeks.
In the meantime, the building is still being cleaned out. The attic is being sprayed to remove the smell of smoke, and the rafters also are being painted with a special substance to remove the smell.
Electricians soon will be wiring the building, and the walls will be repaired. The wainscoting will be oak, just as it was before the fire.
"Everything will be right back to where it was before the fire," said Mr. Ostachnowicz. "And, everything will be up to code."
He said the church restoration project will be completed in about two months, except for some special-order items such as new glass windows.
In the meantime, the congregation will continue to hold services in the parish hall across the street, which was undamaged by fire.
