Healing Hermann

Scaffolding gives

workers complete

access to statue

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Scaffolding that will allow workers total access to Hermann the German from top to bottom went up Tuesday in preparation for restoring the Hermann of Cheruscan Memorial Statue to its former sartorial splendor.

A crew from Scaffold Service, Inc. of St. Paul was on site for much of the day erecting the scaffolding that will allow workers to get at every crease and crevice on Hermann's body. They were also going to shroud the scaffolding in plastic to protect it until the restoration crew arrives.

Conservation Solutions, Inc. of Washington, D.C., received the contract to restore Hermann.

While the firm's bid of $305,883 wasn't the lowest, CSI was selected over eight other bidders because it proposed doing Hermann's extreme makeover on-site, and it had exhibited special attention to detail on other projects.

CSI also proposed a time-line for completing the project that would result in a spring 2005 completion date while utilizing "normal outdoor working periods."

Hermann has been standing beside his monument since February 2003, waiting patiently for the makeover that should make him good to go for another 100 years atop the monument in Hermann Heights Park.