FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) – A more than 100-year-old church is undergoing renovations after it recently started crumbling.
“You could see them way up on the top of the tower, and one of those stones just came tumbling down. Nobody was here.”
Despite the problems, Holy Family Catholic Community Director of Advancement Gail Craig says St. Mary’s Church in downtown Fond du Lac still draws more than 800 worshipers each weekend.
“It was a surprise to everyone. We weren’t aware that the issues were quite as deep as they were, but it was good to get up there and take a look before anything else happened.”
Church officials put up a fence and closed off one of the building’s entrances, which they believe will keep people safe.
Some neighbors, like Eugene Weyh, are still a bit skeptical.
“I won’t walk over there right now. I’d hate to get hit in the head with a brick or something.”
Craig hopes the renovations will be complete by mid-November.
“Almost all of the stone work up there is going to need to be restored so the project, we’re anticipating at least $100,000 at this point, if not more.”
St. Mary’s is staying open while construction is taking place.
