Remington Museum awaits warmer weather to resume work on $1.5 million renovations

OGDENSBURG — As the weather warms, the Frederic Remington Art Museum is looking to pick up where it left off with its estimated $1.5 million overhaul.

Museum officials recently received a report from engineers Crawford & Stearns, Syracuse, outlining the projects to refurbish several roofs and facades of the Parish Mansion at 303 Washington St. Officials are awaiting results from hazardous materials testing before construction can begin.

"The building kind of tells us what we've got to do first in terms of what's most at risk," museum Executive Director Edward A. LaVarnway said. "The east side, the south side and the front facade, at various stages next construction season, will be construction sites."

Officials plan to restore or replace the east wing roof, edges and cornices, along with the roof and edges over the bay window on the south side of the building, which will improve the drainage that has damaged the exterior brick, Mr. LaVarnway said. The facade and masonry of the porch roof also will be replaced.

The metal roof covering of the east wing also needs to be replaced, Mr. LaVarnway said, but funding for this year's construction season may run out before the work can begin. According to Mr. LaVarnway, the roof is about 100 years old.

"It's got to be done soon, but if we don't get it done next season, we'll limp along with patching," he said, adding that several grant applications for the project are pending.

So far the museum has received about $350,000 for the construction from donations and grants, Mr. LaVarnway said. The museum has raised nearly $1.3 million in pledges as part of the campaign that was launched in late 2008 to raise $4 million for construction and programming.

Last summer, the museum replaced columns, balusters and decking for the more than 100-year-old porch. Officials hope to finish the remaining painting and masonry work from last year's porch project as soon as the weather is reliably above 50 degrees.

According to Mr. LaVarnway, the biggest phase of the renovation project will be restoring the brick facades, which are covered by 27 layers of paint. He said engineers are still developing a plan to remove the paint, which likely has both lead and asbestos, so the soft-clay bricks can be replaced.