Knights of Columbus Beaver Dam
Church Basement Project Phases
Select one of the phases to the left to view progress and updates.
Working Together on Projects
1.) Parts Salvage and Pew Disposal
Pastoral Council Chair and brother Knight Mark Roedl led a team of eight people (Frank Schmitt, Charles Frinak, Dave Braker, Alex Williams, Jeff Kaiser, Mark Tomashek and Ed Cody) to salvage usable parts from old pews that were stored in the lower level of the SKDP church.
Then a second team (Steve Haase, Alex Williams, Frank Schmitt and his two sons, Tony & Mike, Steve Voigt, Matt Lohr, Bob Einwalter and Randy Richard) removed the pews along with other large wooden objects and took them to a remote location and burned.
2.) Remove Old Wooden Floor
On Saturday 29Oct16, as a parish project, the one-hundred year old plus rotten wooden floor is removed.
Getting a breath of fresh air!
The floor removal team: Fr. Erick and Fr. Mike, Javier Cavazos, Jerry Cianciolo, Bob Einwalter, Andy Gabryshak, Steve Haase, Arden Howey, Jeff Kaiser, Dan Nelson, John Pryme, Randy Richard, Mark Roedl, Dan Tess, Darryl and Steve Voigt, Alex Williams and Andre Zuehls
... Hey, it's a little lonely down here!
Due to the level of deterioration, boards were easily removed from supporting runners and hoisted through an open window to a waiting trailer.
A Short Break for Lunch
Enjoying pizza, a few refreshments and most importantly, each other's company!
... and the many hands make light work!
Floor has been removed!
3.) Remove Plaster Walls
The Faithful Crew
On the morning of Saturday 10Dec16, our Lord sent the following crew of "angels" (certainly saints); Stafford Caul, Jerry Cianciolo, John Cresio, Chuck Frinak, Andy Gabryshak, Steve Haase, Ed Hafenstein, Mark Hopp, Arden Howey, Jeff Rehberg, Randy Richard, Mark Roedl, Dan Tess, Darryl and Steve Voigt
To Ashes It Has Returned!
Think how often we’ve gazed into a fire… thinking… reflecting. This once ornately decorated church basement served it’s God-given purpose. From Masses, to early council 1837 meetings, it’s even rumored to have housed nuns at a point in time… it served it's purpose beautifully and now has “returned to ashes”! If one were a philosopher, one might be able to draw a parallel in life from this “old church basement”… that will eventually emerge into something beautiful and faithfully serve once again!
4.) R & R Steel Supports & Footings
The Engineering Firm determined existing metal support posts and footings did NOT meet current building code. Thus they had to be removed and replaced with larger steel supports and larger steel reinforced footings.
Dan Tess on the jackhammer removing one of the old footings.
Shoot into basement built by Andy Gabryshak was a GREAT idea. Steve Haase receives the concrete.
Nine footings replaced, increased in size and including rebar to meet building code. Randy Richard delivers one of the final loads completing the project. 4Nov17
It’s inevitable! Provide some fresh concrete and some are driven to add a name to it. The pouring team on Saturday 4Nov was compelled to make permanent, much like the fossils telling a story thousands of years later, the name of one of the leaders of the church basement project…
Still in that frame of mind of providing permanent recognition, we thought it appropriate to add our council’s KC logo to one of the footings.
5.) Install Drain Tile
To help ensure a dry storage space, drain tile captures any moisture that may enter near the walls. Under the outstanding leadership of Andy Gabryshak, trenches were dug next to the outside walls, "crocks" were installed and tile installed to drain any water into the "crocks" (basins). Helping with this final task was Chuck Austin, Ed Cody, Eric Nelson, Mark Roedl, Steve Voigt and Andre Zuehls.
6.) Concrete Installed
Finishing / pouring the concrete was beyond the competencies of our Council, thus a private firm was contracted by the parish to complete the project.
