Masonry Magazine May 1963 Page. 11
St. Stanislaus Church
St. Stanislaus Church Building was erected in 1872, designed as a tastefully quaint adaptation of central European Romanesque architecture, built of solid brick masonry walls and wood roof over squared stone foundation walls. In 1960 this building was selected as a National Monument. The restoration work consisted of cleaning and pointing all masonry, removal of all metal, lanterns, cornices, louvres, clock faces, etc., and replacing this work in new gold leaf covered aluminum and new stone.
A unique feature of the construction work was the use of a 110 crane with a 100 foot boom, thus eliminating the use of ground scaffolding on the 180 foot high towers. A structural steel platform was installed at the top of tower brick walls from which swing scaffolds were suspended for the masons use. The crane was shared by all trades thus expediting the work. The upper dome and spire were prefabricated in one piece and hoisted in place, and engineered to permit complete removal for future gold leaf treatment. This unique operation was suggested by Father Punda, the pastor.
The existing metal clock faces were replaced by new 4 inch thick stone faces 8 foot 4 inches in diameter, cut in three pieces with epoxied joints 1/16 inch thick giving an appearance of one solid stone, the entire unit then securely anchored to the existing brick wall.
Approximately 225 tons of cut stone were installed in new features, bell louvres, transition buttresses, and window trim, enhancing the appearance and minimizing maintance costs of these impressive and structurally sound towers.
The architects desire in the design of this work was to capture the spirit of the original design in the use of the new stone work. The original projecting metal cornices being impossible to execute in stone were refined and project only one third the original proportion. Virgil Gustafson of the Pfaller office was Architect in charge of this work. All work was under the general direction of Tom Lawler of Form-All Inc.
Restoration of St. Stanislaus Church
Structure: St. Stanislaus Church, Milwaukee, Wis.
Architect: Mark F. Pfaller Associates, Inc.
Brickword Restoration Inland Restoration-MCAA
Stone Work: Masonry, Inc.-MCAA
General Contractor: Form-all, Inc.
Gold Domes: Conrad Schmitt Studies
Cut Sone: P. Schmidt Co.
Metal Work: Overly Manufacturing Co.
Clocks and Bells: 1. T. Verdin Co.