(Michigan City, IN) - Approval has been granted to further the renovation of a century old house of worship in Michigan City.

 

It’s happening at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Parish on the city’s north end.

 

The upcoming work includes restoring the twin bell towers on the historic church building at 1506 Washington St.

 

The Michigan City Board of Public Works and Safety on Monday granted a request from the contractor, Ziolkowski Construction of South Bend, for a street closure to start restoring the badly deteriorated columns in each of the bell towers.

 

A crane will be placed in the street to reach the columns with a boom and bring down one of the columns beyond restoring to replace it.     

 

The board approved closing Ann St. from Washington to Franklin streets beginning April 7. The street will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday for two weeks.

 

According to the church website, the project is mostly about restoring the bell towers and brick façade of the landmark building that took 10 years to construct beginning in 1916.

 

The labor was provided by members of the congregation, who also put in the foundation believed to have been done by hand.

 

The plan related to the masonry includes tuck pointing the bricks of the bell towers with mortar of the original color to preserve the integrity and historical beauty of the structures.

 

An ongoing fund raising drive by the church is paying for the restoration.