Posted by Ray Cox at 4:39 AM | Link

 
On August 17th Northfield Construction company participated in "Bar-B-Q Days" in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. We had great weather and enjoyed a fun community event.

The Northfield Construction Company float was full of company employees, their spouses and children. The children had a great time riding on the float and handing out candy. We also passed out 2004 NFL football schedules. The float was pulled with my 1944 Case VAC tractor.

This was the first time for Northfield Construction Company to be in the parade. As Belle Plaine Chamber of Commerce members we participate in various community activities. Belle Plaine is a growing community that has various commercial construction needs. My employees and I hope we can develop projects there. Northfield Construction Company was selected as the 2002 Business of the Year by the Northfield Chamber of Commerce...we are proud of that recognition and like other communities to know about it.

Northfield Construction Company has completed projects in the Belle Plaine area over the past several years. We remodeled and added to the New Prague Golf Clubhouse, remodeled the Imaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lonsdale, built the new building for Home Oil in Lonsdale, and other miscellaneous residential projects. It is great to get to know folks in a new community and generate new business.

Posted by Ray Cox at 10:43 AM | Link

 
 Most major window manufacturers are now producing windows with simulated divided lights as an extra cost option. This is a great improvement in energy efficiency and maintenance.
 
Window glass evolved from glass spun on spindles, to float glass to modern plate glass. Because glass size was limited----the larger the glass the more expensive it was---most early windows were small. The small windows eventually became joined into a large window using muntins...the slender wood dividers between glass panels.
 
It was typical to have 4 to 6 small panes of glass in each window sash. They could be arranged in different patterns in double hung windows. Sometimes 6 panes over 6, sometimes 4 panes over 1, or 2 panes over 1, etc. The glass was held in place tight to the muntins with glazing putty. The putty needed to be maintained in order to keep the window weather tight. That could be a big job.
 
Once glass manufacturing reached a point where larger panels could be produced economically, window manufacturers started using a single glass panel in window sashes. This created a problem when people wanted to replicate existing windows for additions and remodeling work. The solution for some people is removable grilles on the window. However, removeable grills do not look authentic.
 
This problem gave rise to simulated divided lights. This process involves attaching muntin strips to each side of an insulated glass panel. To make the resulting product look like individual glass panels, spacers are installed between the glass directly under the muntins. This creates a light barrier so that even looking directly at the window closely it is hard to tell that the sash is a single panel of glass. 
 
We have used simulated divided lights on our remodeling and restoration work for many years now. But, as manufacturers have offered more and more options, we are now using simulated divided lights in many of our new homes.   
  
  
This photo shows a slender casement window with simulated divided lights. The glass pattern is used to pick up on the Prairie style of architecture used on this home design. A pattern such as this can be replicated in details throughout the home....tile work, cabinetry, trims, etc.
 
The nice thing about simulated divided lights is there is one insulated glass panel. If the muntins were true muntins there would be many individual insulated glass panes in a window sash such as this. With that many panes there would be a much higher chance of a seal failure, causing a foggy pane. In addition, a single glass pane keeps the cold edge to a minimum---a real plus on our cold Minnesota days.

Posted by Ray Cox at 4:32 AM | Link

 
Yesterday evening I attended a forum on historic preservation in Northfield. The forum was held at the Archer House ... a fine old river hotel to hold a historic discussion. The City of Northfield's Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) was in charge of the forum.


Bob Will, Chair of the HPC, gave an overview of historic issues in Northfield. It is great to have people like Bob devoted to this important concern. Dan Olson, the City Planner, then introduced Tom Zahn. Tom is a historic preservation consultant hired by the HPC to assist with the development of a new preservation booklet.

Tom gave a good slide presentation of the new booklet. It seems very comprehensive for the downtown area in Northfield. We have some great historic buildings in this city. Some have been carefully maintained during their entire life, others have been somewhat taken care of, and others have been sigificantly altered. The new booklet should be a great resource to building owners as they care for their buildings.

The meeting ended with Steve Edwins, a local architect and HPC member, giving an overview of how historic tax credits can assist building owners. This led to Brian O'Connell, the Community Development Director, explaining how the city's revolving loan fund can assist historic building projects.

Northfield truly cares about its historic buildings. Tom Zahn noted that he had not seen a small town that has taken care of the buildings the way Northfield has, with very few closed up window openings, etc.

A big thank you to the HPC and the city for their work in creating this new historic preservation booklet, and for all the support they give to building owners.

Posted by Ray Cox at 4:06 AM | Link

 

Ellen and I were in Northfield for the July 4th events downtown. There was a fine flea market on the west bank of the Cannon River. There was a great kiddie parade down Division Street, and music on Bridge Square with food vendors, popcorn, etc. At 8:15 there were a series of patriotic readings on the Square. (See my legislative blog for more.) Then, like any good Independence Day, we had a great fireworks display.


The country is another year older. I hope everyone took time to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy in America and give thanks for all that has been done to preserve those freedoms.

The Northfield Historical Society organized the July 4th events. (See a large 4th of July photo gallery of these and other events of the day on Northfield.org.

Posted by Ray Cox at 12:11 PM | Link

 
Last week I was out visiting some folks in Wheatland Township west of Northfield. It was a beautiful day to be out in the country. We are fortunate to have fine farms around this area that have been settled and worked by generations of families.

On one farm the owners were working on an outbuilding. They had removed some of the siding and there underneath was a fine hand cut and scribed log structure. I suspect this building is well over 100 years old. The logs are in excellent condition having been under the siding for many years.


As you can see in the photograph, the building is constructed of hand hewn logs squared off into roughly 12" x 12" beams. The beams are fit together at the corners using what seems to be a dovetail joint, essentially locking the logs into place without fasteners. The spaces between the logs were chinked with plaster.

I don't know the history of such a building, but since the main part is roughly 14' x 16' I would guess this may have been an original dwelling for the people that settled this farm. As the farm prospered and newer improved buildings were constructed, this building was probably re-worked into the present outbuilding to serve the farm.

A lot of material and energy went into building such structures. Using today's modern framing techniques we would probably build a structure 4 times as large as this building with the same amount of lumber that is contained in this small building. But there is something really special about seeing such a solid old building and knowing that it is connected to the land in a dear manner.

Posted by Ray Cox at 4:45 AM | Link