By Angela Brown

Renovations underway at former post office

Jun 6, 2017 | 10:41 AM

The new owners of Battleford’s former post office building are making progress with their plans to renovate and upgrade the building, after purchasing the site in downtown Battleford last month.

Local investors Cassandra Germsheid and her husband Jesse Crozier, of Fieldstone Holdings Corp., have a goal to have the building ready for Canada Post to resume operating at the site by November 1. The post office is currently located at a temporary site at 35th St. W.

“We’re in the process of getting our permits together from the town to start the construction,” Germsheid said.

Clock a priority

Currently, the new owners are assessing what repairs are needed for the tower clock, which was first installed in 1914. The clock is originally from Birmingham, England.

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“It’s been well maintained. All it really needs is some oil, and a little bit of love, and to clean up all the old dust and grease,” Germsheid said. “A few parts will need to be brushed up then it will be up and running. We have some people who have maintained other clock towers in Canada who are interested in coming to look, so we’ll be talking with them shortly.”

The new owners are also making improvements to the building exterior, and plan to strip and repaint some window frames. A stairwell is also planned.

Germsheid said they hope to have their work in the building completed in the next couple of months so Canada Post can start planning the design for its operations.

Canada Post will be leasing the main floor and basement of the four-storey structure.

When the building closed in 2015 there had been problems with bats in the structure. Germsheid said before she and her husband purchased the building, a company that specializes in this type of work ensured there were no more bats in the building. The site was inspected, and access points where the bats had previously entered the clock tower were sealed, so the new owners don’t anticipate any more problems.

Germsheid said her husband is currently removing some asbestos found in the building, otherwise there are no concerns.

She said since the post office structure was a government building it had been kept in good condition so it won’t be too difficult to get the site ready for use again.  

As the new co-owner, Germsheid is thrilled to be able to help restore this historic building.

“I was born and raised here,” she said.  “I love this community. I love all the people here, and I’m really fascinated by the history, and the importance of this town. I feel these historical buildings need to be maintained, so that we don’t forget where we came from.”

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW