Hose Tower Project Aims at Village Days Completion

The adaptive restoration of the historic Greendale Hose Tower building is in full swing with Village Days in August the target date for the completion of phase one of the project.

Greendale Historical Society president Ted Mainella anticipates the buildings bathrooms, heating system, electrical work, plumbing, audio-visual installation and more to be completed by early August so those in town for the village’s 75th anniversary can stop by the building during Greendale’s annual multi-day celebration.

“We’re hoping to have enough of it done so people can stop by and see the scope of the project,” Mainella said.

The Hose Tower, which still has hoses hanging in it just like it did upon its  construction in 1939, will serve as a community gathering space for groups and organizations.

The Historical Society began work on the project in February. The organization signed an agreement with the village to take on the project back in 2011, though conceptual plans were in the works two years earlier when the Historical Society put in new windows.

A doorway between the Hose Tower and the rest of the building, which had been used for a variety of different reasons over the years, was constructed last month, connecting the two areas for the first time.

A second phase of construction would include an outdoor patio to the west of the building and an addition to the original building just south of the patio. A path from the Hose Tower will connect it to the shops and businesses on Broad Street.

The Historical Society has a $600,000 budget for the project and has been helped by generous donations from local businesses and professionals who have volunteered their time and expertise. They include Al Emmons of Creative Construction; mason and bricklayer John Flejter; Josh and Rob Hunt of Frank-dale Roof & Chimney; Jane Kerwin of Kerwin Builders; George Mederak of Metal Fabrication & Restoration; Josh Neudorfer of The Sigma Group, structural engineer consultant Lee Paulus; Chris Pegelow of Northern Restoration Solutions; architect and consultant Bob Prindiville; Jack Reichl of Reichl Construction Company; Scott Leonard of Professional Audio Designs and Al Sikorski of Bradley Corporation.