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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMore scaffolding went up around Soldiers and Sailors Monument as caretakers battle intruding water for a third time in recent years.
Keeping water out of the 114-year-old limestone monument has required some major repairs since 2009. The observation deck was replaced six years ago with one that has vertical windows to repel rain. Then in 2011, the monument’s caretakers realized water was intruding through Victory. Refurbishing the bronze statue required taking her from her perch for the first time since 1893.
At that time, the state thought the monument’s problems were solved, said Brigadier Gen. Stewart Goodwin, executive director of the Indiana War Memorial Commission.
Last year, however, water was seen leaking onto the staircase inside the monument, and the problem was traced to the monument’s lower bronze astragal, or decorative band. Half the 3-inch bronze bolts that hold the architectural piece to the limestone were sheared in half, and the rest were bent, Goodwin said.
The discovery was made as the annual Circle of Lights was approaching, so the bolts were replaced with stainless steel, and some scaffolding was left in place in order to save money on future maintenance work, he said. With scaffolding around all four sides, crews will inspect up to the second astragal, Goodwin said.
“This should complete the inspection of the entire monument,” he said.
The work is supposed to be complete by May. The museum, gift shop and observation deck are open for business.
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