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Many elements of old hospital to be reused by local schools, cities

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Area schools and city governments have had the opportunity in recent weeks to walk the halls of the former Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital building on Taylor Street in hopes of taking materials and equipment that can be recycled and repurposed. Now, Clayton County Recycling, of Monona, Iowa, will begin demolition of the site this week. They will collaborate with Robinson Brothers Environmental on asbestos abatement.

Removing a light fixture from the former hospital property are (from left) Father James Weighner; Jeff Mink, Crossing Rivers Health maintenance; and Steve Rickleff. (Submitted photo)

By Correne Martin

Demolition of the former Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital facility on Taylor Street is targeted to begin sometime this week, according to Crossing Rivers Health officials. With that on the horizon, nearly every interior element from the old building was recently claimed by area school districts, cities and non-profit organizations free of charge for potential recycling and repurposing. An online auction, which ended Friday, sold commercial kitchen and other large hospital equipment to the general public.

The demolition contract was awarded Friday to Clayton County Recycling, of Monona, Iowa, who can start work as early as Tuesday, Sept. 29.

“They will be mobilizing asbestos abatement,” Crossing Rivers Chief Financial Officer Dave Breitbach said, “but there are a couple sections of the facility that are clear from asbestos, so those could be demolished right away.” Robinson Brothers Environmental will collaborate with the general contractor on asbestos abatement.

The exact timeline for clearing the site as well as potential development of the estimated six acres are currently unknown. However, Crossing Rivers Board President Charlie Connell affirmed that it would be done before winter.

“The board hasn’t even initiated discussions on [development] yet. We have had some interest but that’s all. Right now, our goal is to finish demolition and get it done the way we want it done,” he said. “We don’t want the building to have to go through another winter.”

Breitbach added that letters have been sent out to the property’s neighbors alerting them to the planned disruption.

Also, about three weeks ago, Crossing Rivers resurfaced the Methodist Church’s parking lot, which was once utilized for the hospital’s helipad. “They requested we do that but we had always intended to do so,” Connell noted.

The Prairie du Chien Public Works Committee, during its Sept. 24 meeting, approved removal of some “No Parking” signs and yellow curb near the former hospital site as well.

Helping to achieve the board’s expectations throughout the deactivation of the former hospital, Crossing Rivers Lean Manager Nicole Martin has led the processes of moving to the new medical center, returning the old facility to greenfield, and overseeing the most appropriate future plans for the property, of which Crossing Rivers Health maintains ownership at this time. She coordinated the invitation to the schools, cities and other non-profits who had interest in repurposing the many aspects of the building, making sure the process was efficient and vision-focused.

“We wanted to reuse as much as possible to keep it out of a land fill,” Martin explained.

First, hospital staff had the opportunity to bid on items and over 600 bids came in for certain artifacts that way, according to Breitbach. Then, the non-profits were welcomed.

“The schools are financially strapped right now. They’re part of our communities and we knew this would be a way we could help,” Connell said. “I think we’re accomplishing what we set out to accomplish when we planned the demolition. We wanted to include as many constituents as possible.”

Schools taking advantage of this opportunity included Prairie du Chien Public, Prairie Catholic, Seneca, River Ridge, Wauzeka-Steuben and MFL MarMac. The cities of Prairie du Chien, Marquette and McGregor all surveyed the in-kind goods.

Among the items taken for reuse were doors, toilets, sinks, carpet squares, ceiling tiles, windowsills, light bulbs and fixtures, cabinetry, desks and chairs, file cabinets, tables, wall signage, bathroom partitions, soap dispensers, cubicles, chair rails, grab bars, TVs, cubicles, a projector screen, decorative finishes, extra building supplies, flowers, bushes and more. Even the windows will be spoken for once the structure is ready for destruction.

“I think we were surprised at how much was repurposed,” Martin said.

“There was so much that went out; it was just wonderful,” Breitbach commented. “We’re grateful they can use these things.”

Prairie Catholic was one of the schools that benefitted from the “donated” materials. Father James Weighner shared his appreciation.

“We got quite a bit of building materials, lavatories, ceiling tiles, light fixtures, signage, sinks, etc. With our two building projects (church hall and school addition) going on, this will certainly help the budget,” he stated. “Any time we can save a little bit, it helps our parish and it helps our schools.”

The different pieces of equipment sold via the Kramer Auction Services online liquidation included mostly commercial kitchen appliances and storage, a generator, a forklift, beds and bedside tables. The money generated by the auction will help offset the costs of demolition and construction, Breitbach said.

In addition to these efforts to disperse the bits and pieces of the old hospital throughout the community, Breitbach added that the demolition company’s contract includes a materials recycling clause. He said the copper roof of the front entrance was one example of something that might get a new home.

“Part of the legacy is that a lot of the parts from the old hospital will be utilized throughout the community,” Connell said.

Once the former Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital is torn down and the site redeveloped, in addition to the remaining interiors scattered around the area, the memories and the staff who make up the heart of the “hospital” will stay as the new medical center continues to service the region.

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