Friday the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation held a groundbreaking ceremony for the granary on the west waterfront. Over 100 community members gathered to witness this transition to the next phase of the granary’s restoration project. Originally built in 1901 as the Teweles & Brandeis grain elevator, this 120 year-old building has seen much commotion in recent years while it crossed the bay twice and was the subject of numerous debates concerning its future. Project Director Beth Renstrom spoke of this, along with the structure’s significant past, and what it will bring to the city’s future…..
Multiple speakers during the ceremony mentioned the granary’s importance concerning the agricultural, maritime, and railroad involvement all combined in this one building. Sturgeon Bay Historical Society President Christie Weber spoke of its complex history and how this sometimes misunderstood project has reason to celebrate as they begin the construction phase…..
Other speakers included Jim Janning of the fundraising committee, architect James Dallman, Michael Murphy from the contractor “Greenfire”, Jeff Beane of Beane Engineering, and lastly Mayor Dave Ward. The crowd cheered as the speakers lined up to conduct the ceremonial shovel-turn in front of the towering granary, soon to be moved to its final and more permanent resting space to be enjoyed and experienced for generations.
