Campanile Restoration Project, 1994

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Background

After almost seventy years of wind and weather, the iconic Campanile on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa was ready for substantial restoration in 1994. Bricks were cracked, the foundation was settling, and large stones around the base were bulging outward. While the structure was likely in little danger of collapsing, it did need something much more significant than a quick tuckpointing.

Most of the work was carried out over the summer and fall of 1994, simultaneously with the major renovation of the adjacent Rod Library. Consequently, a good portion of that part of campus was torn up and inaccessible to the public for a few months. Construction work in that area even displaced Homecoming campaniling activities that year.

In early August 1994, someone, likely from the Facilities Planning staff, took several rolls of film of the work as it stood at that time. Shortly before he retired, Associate Vice President for Facilities Morris Mikkelsen brought these photos to the University Archives. A series of photos, shot day by day during the whole project, would certainly be interesting. However, this series of images gives a nice look at what was happening in the middle of the work. The photos confirm that the brick cladding was in very bad shape and needed to be replaced completely. Other photos show moisture damage to the interior and at least slight deterioration of the limestone trim.

Damaged Base

Campanile base, 1994 — Photograph of damage on the limestone base of the Campanile with misalignment of block just left of center, August 3, 1994, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, CAM Box 6, CAM 3.07 Campanile- Restoration, 1994 Folder 6, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Campanile restoration, 1994 — Photograph of damage on the limestone base of the Campanile with misalignment of blocks, August 3, 1994, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, CAM Box 6, CAM 3.07 Campanile- Restoration, 1994 Folder 6, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Damaged Interior

Damaged Campanile interior. — Photograph of damage in the Campanile interior with moisture damage near the spiral stairs, August 1994, in University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, CAM Box 6, CAM 3.07 Campanile - Restoration, 1994 Folder 6, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Damaged Cladding Brickwork

Photograph of damaged Campanile brickwork with traces of earlier tuckpointing, August 3, 1994, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, CAM Box 6, CAM 3.07 Campanile- Restoration, 1994 Folder 6, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Damaged brickwork — Photograph of damaged Campanile brickwork near one of the clock faces, August 3, 1994, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, CAM Box 6, CAM 3.07 Campanile- Restoration, 1994 Folder 6, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Damage near clock face — Photograph of damaged Campanile brickwork near one of the clock faces, August 3, 1994, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, CAM Box 6, CAM 3.07 Campanile- Restoration, 1994 Folder 6, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Drilling a Test Core

Mason drilling a core near the top of the Campanile — Photograph of a mason drilling a test core near the top of the Campanile, 1994, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, CAM Box 6, CAM 3.07 Campanile- Restoration, 1994 Folder 6, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Campanile test core being rinsed off — Photograph of the test core taken from the Campanile being assessed for structural soundness, 1994, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, CAM Box 6, CAM 3.07 Campanile- Restoration, 1994 Folder 6, #23, University Archives Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Cladding Removal

Mason inspecting the bricks near the top of the Campanile — Photograph of a mason inspecting the bricks near the top of the Campanile, 1994, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, CAM Box 6, CAM 3.07 Campanile- Restoration, 1994 Folder 6, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Damage to the brickwork near the top of the Campanile — Photograph of brick damage near the top of the Campanile, August 1994, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, CAM Box 6, CAM 3.07 Campanile- Restoration, 1994 Folder 6, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Brickwork near the top of the Campanile — Photograph of the brickwork near the top of the Campanile, 1994, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, CAM Box 6, CAM 3.07 Campanile- Restoration, 1994 Folder 6, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Brickwork and trim outside of the Campanile belfry — Photograph of the brickwork and trim outside of the Campanile belfry, August 1994, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, CAM Box 6, CAM 3.07 Campanile- Restoration, 1994 Folder 6, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Limestone Trim

Long Range Views of the Project

Essay by University Archivist Gerald L. Peterson, with scanning by Library Assistant Joy Lynn, October 2014; last updated January 30, 2015 (GP); citations added by Lydia L. Pakala; photos and citations updated by Graduate Assistant Eliza Mussmann April 19, 2023.