Buildings and Grounds

This late fall the Buildings and Grounds Manager, Dave Diamond, focused on the the major upgrading of the Barn 3 structure. The barn was built in the late 1970's or early 1980's and certainly needed attention. The structure was beginning to fail in spots and so the decision was made to invest a rather large amount of money into the structure. This will preserve the life of the barn for many more years. Dave Diamond and his crew inspected the supporting posts this summer and discovered a number of them were in a fragile state. A contractor was selected and work began this late November to repair and replace any supporting posts and to also reside the entire barn. The large eastern four barn doors will be replaced this coming Spring. Your donations to the General Fund have made this and many other projects a reality. Please remember it when you consider this years donations to your museum.

What a beautiful upgrade to your museum campus. There will be other projects like this one happening in the near future. Remember the General Fund this year! Have a safe and healthy 2019 New Year!      Thanks    Roger  

The museum has finally  installed the electrical system into barns 13 an 14.   Under the expert guidance and leadership of Dave Diamond the barns now have operational lighting.   Both barns are now ready for the county inspections to begin. 

These last four pictures have been provided to me by the contractor.   He stayed out at the museum past dusk to get these night shots.   Thank You.  The latest news comes from Dave himself in which he has proudly proclaimed that the county inspectors have granted us an occupancy permit!    The great news was given to us this last Friday!    We now can begin the arduous task of switching equipment around and filling these two barns.  We now have more than three miles, yes three miles, of inside storage for our equipment.   It has taken three years from the planning stages to occupancy permit.  It was well worth the wait!                                                                                                                                                                                         The last two tracks and one switch will be installed in yard 15 this year. Its now time to consider building the next  barn!!    Why not consider sending in a donation to the newly established barn 15 fund.    Yes, we have indeed started one already!.    Lets start adding to it now.   When planning a visit to Irm this Spring, please remember to visit these latest additions to our going campus!   Take  a look and be amazed at what we can do with donations!   Lets keep on building these barns!        Thanks  Roger

Here is the latest information regarding the installation of interior electrical service to our two new barns. Notice in the background of the above picture the hoppers in storage   After these pictures were taken I heard that the ceiling fixtures have been ordered and the last step in this process will begin- the installation of the ceiling lights.   Hopefully, by April we will be switching equipment into these two new barns.  THAT will be a humongous undertaking taking many weeks.   You will see equipment moving from one spot to another that hasn't seen the light of day for years.    It might be a good time to be a photographer.    As  always keep sending donations to the new barn construction.     Next big project is the expansion of yard 15 to four tracks.  Watch for it this coming summer!        Thanks Roger

The new year has brought a resumption of construction work on  barns 13 and 14 .   As I drove past the new construction sites for the first time in 2016, I noticed a contractor van parked between barns 13 and 14.   Yes, the electrical contractor hired to install the electric service in both barns was busy working in barn 13.   I chatted with him briefly and took a few pictures of his progress.  A couple of interesting factoids came out of my conversations with him.  He estimates about 3000 feet of 1/2 pipe and 2300 3/4 pipe will be used to "wire up" each barn.   That will keep him going for a while!!   I will keep you posted on this latest progress in the next couple of weeks.  Please keep sending in your donations for new barn construction!   Thanks to everyone who has donated to the cause so far! 

Here is the latest pictorial news concerning barns 13 and 14.  The last two weeks a contractor  has been working to install all eight new roll-up doors on the eastern end both barns.  His work should be completed by the time you read this blog.   Next on the schedule is the installation of power and lights to both barns.  

 The two middle doors are taller so that we can fit the taller equipment in those two middle bays in both barns.  We are always thinking about the future!   Next up in the construction schedule is the installation of the electrical system.  As you can see from the interior picture the entire construction has a very clean and professional look to it.  Dave Diamond and his crew have done a marvelous job designing and constructing these two buildings.  

Want to help make the next barn 15, a reality?  Please send your year end donation in and mark it NEW BARN 15 CONSTRUCTION!    Thanks  Roger