Roof work starts off museum

Project first of three stages to turn former Steel site into home for history.

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

By KURT BRESSWEIN

The Express-Times

BETHLEHEM -- The roof replacement started Monday on the National Museum of Industrial History building, a requisite step before the tale of building, transporting and defending the United States can be told inside.

About 80 people braved biting winds as speakers lauded the museum's mission and asked for more donations to ensure the museum's long-awaited Exposition Hall opens inside Bethlehem Steel's former Electrical Shop.

Workers from Alan Kunsman Roofing and Siding, of Freemansburg, marked the bricks-and-mortar start to the museum by lowering a crane-load of roof debris from atop the building in the 500 block of East Third Street.

The roof work is projected to take five months.

"It is the first tangible building step for the museum, and I can assure you that our highest priority is to raise the remaining funds to complete the construction," said Stephen G. Donches, the museum's president and chief executive officer.

Donches last month announced the museum's board of directors allotted $500,000 for the new roof, the first of the museum's expected three-stage development. Alvin H. Butz Inc. is the construction manager.

The timing of subsequent stages of the redevelopment depends on fund raising. The total cost estimate to open and run for a year stands at $17 million. The museum has about $12.5 million pledged to the project.

Stage two would include exterior masonry work and replacing the two-story, 39,000-square-foot building's windows. Stage three readies the interior to open, something Donches hopes to do next year.

The vision of the museum at the site dates to the 1990s, when a bankrupt Bethlehem Steel was forced to cease operations there. Curtis "Hank" Barnette, then chairman and chief executive officer of Bethlehem Steel, said the closure left the company with two options.

One was to level the 1913 Electrical Shop and its neighboring buildings on the 160-acre Bethlehem Works, the heart of the Steel's operations. Steel officials took the more ambitious route, to keep the buildings and the blast furnaces, develop a plan for the property and get its zoning changed to permit its rebirth.

"The commitment that Steve and Hank have shown throughout the years is the reason that we're here today," state Rep. T.J. Rooney, D-Lehigh/Northampton, said about Donches and Barnette, chairman of the museum's board of directors.

Rooney announced the state will give $10,000 more toward the project, in addition to its pledge of $4.5 million. Rooney is a strong supporter of the entire $879 million Bethlehem Works redevelopment planned by the BethWorks Now developers.

Mayor John Callahan also commended the museum's leadership as one of the necessary ingredients for its success, along with a supportive community, a collective vision and willing partners.

Barnette announced the museum will partner with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to develop an interpretive tour of Bethlehem Works. The Historic Bethlehem Partnership is planning to add to the tour Bethlehem Steel's context in the overall community.

Another partner, the Smithsonian Institution, has already given the museum a collection of machinery first displayed at the centennial celebration of U.S. independence in 1876 in Philadelphia. The collection formed the founding of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

"These are the very collections that put the Smithsonian on the path to becoming the great museum complex that it is today," the Smithsonian's Harold Closter said. "And these are the collections that we are all too delighted to return to the state that opened the curtain for America's entry onto the world stage of industrial accomplishment."

Closter, the director of Smithsonian affiliations, said the National Museum of Industrial History is the first of 138 Smithsonian affiliates in 39 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Panama. The affiliate program is an effort to explore the nation's history close to people's homes.

For city council President J. Michael Schweder, the day celebrated the success he and Rooney found traveling to Cleveland, New York City, Philadelphia and elsewhere to try to find a developer for the Bethlehem Works.

BethWorks Now principal Michael Perrucci thanked Bethlehem Steel at Monday's gathering for having the foresight to keep its land intact. Perrucci also thanked the steel workers who labored on the land.

"I'm still humbled every time I come down here to realize that they built the Empire State Building, the United Nations, Madison Square Garden, the Golden Gate Bridge and most of New York from here," Perrucci said.

"As one of the principals of BethWorks, I want to assure you that we're going to do everything to bring a renaissance to this site, to have it alive and vital and be a real part of this community."

Reporter Kurt Bresswein can be reached at 610-867-5000 or by e-mail at kbresswein@express-times.com.




Roof work starts off museum Project first of three stages to turn former Steel site into home for history. Tuesday, March 15, 2005 By KURT BRESSWEIN The Express-Times BETHLEHEM -- The roof replacement started Monday on the National Museum of Industrial History building, a requisite step before the tale of building, transporting and defending the United States can be told inside. About 80 people braved biting winds as speakers lauded the museum's mission and asked for more donations to ensure the museum's long-awaited Exposition Hall opens inside Bethlehem Steel's former Electrical Shop. Workers from Alan Kunsman Roofing and Siding, of Freemansburg, marked the bricks-and-mortar start to the museum by lowering a crane-load of roof debris from atop the building in the 500 block of East Third Street. The roof work is projected to take five months. "It is the first tangible building step for the museum, and I can assure you that our highest priority is to raise the remaining funds to complete the construction," said Stephen G. Donches, the museum's president and chief executive officer. Donches last month announced the museum's board of directors allotted $500,000 for the new roof, the first of the museum's expected three-stage development. Alvin H. Butz Inc. is the construction manager. The timing of subsequent stages of the redevelopment depends on fund raising. The total cost estimate to open and run for a year stands at $17 million. The museum has about $12.5 million pledged to the project. Stage two would include exterior masonry work and replacing the two-story, 39,000-square-foot building's windows. Stage three readies the interior to open, something Donches hopes to do next year. The vision of the museum at the site dates to the 1990s, when a bankrupt Bethlehem Steel was forced to cease operations there. Curtis "Hank" Barnette, then chairman and chief executive officer of Bethlehem Steel, said the closure left the company with two options. One was to level the 1913 Electrical Shop and its neighboring buildings on the 160-acre Bethlehem Works, the heart of the Steel's operations. Steel officials took the more ambitious route, to keep the buildings and the blast furnaces, develop a plan for the property and get its zoning changed to permit its rebirth. "The commitment that Steve and Hank have shown throughout the years is the reason that we're here today," state Rep. T.J. Rooney, D-Lehigh/Northampton, said about Donches and Barnette, chairman of the museum's board of directors. Rooney announced the state will give $10,000 more toward the project, in addition to its pledge of $4.5 million. Rooney is a strong supporter of the entire $879 million Bethlehem Works redevelopment planned by the BethWorks Now developers. Mayor John Callahan also commended the museum's leadership as one of the necessary ingredients for its success, along with a supportive community, a collective vision and willing partners. Barnette announced the museum will partner with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to develop an interpretive tour of Bethlehem Works. The Historic Bethlehem Partnership is planning to add to the tour Bethlehem Steel's context in the overall community. Another partner, the Smithsonian Institution, has already given the museum a collection of machinery first displayed at the centennial celebration of U.S. independence in 1876 in Philadelphia. The collection formed the founding of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. "These are the very collections that put the Smithsonian on the path to becoming the great museum complex that it is today," the Smithsonian's Harold Closter said. "And these are the collections that we are all too delighted to return to the state that opened the curtain for America's entry onto the world stage of industrial accomplishment." Closter, the director of Smithsonian affiliations, said the National Museum of Industrial History is the first of 138 Smithsonian affiliates in 39 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Panama. The affiliate program is an effort to explore the nation's history close to people's homes. For city council President J. Michael Schweder, the day celebrated the success he and Rooney found traveling to Cleveland, New York City, Philadelphia and elsewhere to try to find a developer for the Bethlehem Works. BethWorks Now principal Michael Perrucci thanked Bethlehem Steel at Monday's gathering for having the foresight to keep its land intact. Perrucci also thanked the steel workers who labored on the land. "I'm still humbled every time I come down here to realize that they built the Empire State Building, the United Nations, Madison Square Garden, the Golden Gate Bridge and most of New York from here," Perrucci said. "As one of the principals of BethWorks, I want to assure you that we're going to do everything to bring a renaissance to this site, to have it alive and vital and be a real part of this community." Reporter Kurt Bresswein can be reached at 610-867-5000 or by e-mail at kbresswein@express-times.com. Copyright 2005 PennLive.com. All Rights Reserved.