Cassandra Germsheid said the renovation and restoration of Battleford’s post office is going according to plan.
Except for plumbing, not much is finished but “in the works.” Windowpanes have been scraped and primed, the roof is being painted, and new drywall is being installed. Piping and electrical work have been updated. The exterior brick has been sprayed with dry ice to restore it to a previous form.
Stairs have been ordered and installing them to the second floor is an upcoming project. Since there are currently no stairs to the second floor, Germsheid said “if we absolutely need to go up there we can, but we’re just going to have to leave the clock for now because it’s not essential to getting Canada Post in there by September.”
Much of the current work on the first floor is directed toward Canada Post’s fixturing period, beginning on Sept. 1. The two-month period between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1 allows Canada Post to prepare to make the post office operational. Canada Post will make some of its own renovations, while Nov. 1 is the date the post office is set to open.
Plans regarding the above floors will be drawn up later, although Germsheid said renting out the second floor as office space is an option.
Germsheid’s husband, Jesse Crozier, who is leading the project, has experience with historic restorations, having worked on the Sallows and McDonald Funeral Home on 103 Street.
Germsheid added costs are still within the budget she and Crozier set for themselves.
Future plans include adding lights around the clock area during Christmas-time.
A website with photos tracking progress of the work, www.battlefordpostoffice.ca, is available. Germsheid said she plans on posting more photos and archived material relating to the post office in the future.
Germsheid said that the post office was “built with integrity,” and reconstruction work is helped by good public maintenance over the years.
“Everything’s on target and on time. I shouldn’t say that though because I’ll probably jinx it. I’ll get a phone call in 10 minutes, ‘the water main’s blown, there’s water everywhere!’ But no, it’s been really good.”
