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“I like to see things the way they used to be,” he said.
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Dave Becker of Mondovi, Wis., stands in front of one of several buildings
he and his wife, Robin, are restoring in the 300 block of South Main Street in Alma, Wis. The two-story historic structure, built in 1891, once housed the hardware store of its builder Edward Knospe. The Beckers’ goal is to help preserve and restore the look of Alma’s historic Main Street.
(Photo by Melissa Carlo/Winona Daily News) |
History. That’s what the 49-year-old Mondovi, Wis., man is envisioning in downtown Alma, Wis. He bought several buildings on Main Street and is working to restore the exteriors to look like long ago. When he’s finished, he hopes to make it look like something from the 1800s — minus the cars parked in front of the buildings and a few other modern details.
“It looks wonderful,” a passerby said as Becker surveyed his most recent work, an old hardware store.
It’s been a project more than four years in the making for Becker and his wife, Robin.
They first bought a property at 312 Main St. The front half now houses a chiropractic office with the other portion used for apartment buildings with a penthouse on the top floor.
Becker picked out brick for the bottom half of the building to match the top half. He decided to have the brick from the top half power-washed since it was filthy. Unfortunately, the brick no longer matches now that it’s clean.
“I wanted to cry,” Becker said. “It drives me nuts.”
The couple’s current project located across the street at 325 Main St. is still a work in progress. They acquired the building in November and are hoping to have it ready in October.
A woodworker has rented the middle building, and Becker plans to lease the other two as well. The upstairs will remain apartment rentals.
The outside is far from finished.
“The funny thing is I know what it will look like when it’s done,” Becker said.
What he sees are windows accented with green and swirls of blue with the building’s base a mustard color.
Becker has always loved carpentry and founded Liberty Exteriors in 1984. His wife, Robin, helps with the style, design and colors of the buildings.
Becker has talked to folks in town to try to get a sense of old Alma and has looked at old photos of the buildings. He wants to get it right.
He appreciates the fine craftsmanship shown in buildings built to last and built to have character. He tore a four-foot ledge off his newest project after deciding it didn’t look the way he wanted it to.
“It’s a ton of work,” Becker said, “but I love it.”
Käri Knutson may be reached at kknutson@winonadailynews.com or (507) 453-3523.
32336 wrote on Aug 24, 2008 8:12 PM: