MARQUETTE, MI— Restoration of Marquette’s St. Peter Cathedral bell towers is nearly complete.
Tuesday marked 145 years since the cornerstone of the building was placed in 1881.
Over the past two years, a $2.6 million project has focused on the upper portion of the bell towers. Water and freeze-thaw cycles severely compromised the load-bearing brick and some of the exterior sandstone and terra-cotta veneer.
During restoration, approximately 30 tons of deteriorated brick and rubble were removed and replaced. The tower was waterproofed, cracks were repaired, and damaged limestone and sandstone were reset and sealed.
Scaffolding surrounding the bell towers is expected to come down over the next few weeks.
