Fifth Maine Regiment Museum - Last Season's Events

September, 2003 . "Rear Tower Balcony Is Restored".

In early September of 2003, Dong Nguyen of Dong's Home Improvement began a week-long project to restore the 5th Maine's second level waterside balcony railing to its original condition (actually better!)


Look of the old...but it's all brand-new	Photo by Don Perry

Dong has recently re-painted our building and completed a number of other construction projects. He is a wonderful craftsman.

The design was based on an old picture our currator Kim had of the water side of the building. Dong and our 5th Maine Board Member (and "Maintenance Supervisor") Mick Hocker got together and decided the nitty-gritty of how the project could actually be accomplished, in order to come as close to the picture as possible.

Mick says "we'll never have to do anything else, cause' it's as sturdy as the rest of the building"! The decision to do the job was made because the old small, open railing was rotted out and broken......Mick wanted to fix it because it wasn't safe, but Kim kept wanting it restored.


Contractor Dong at work	Photo by Don Perry

The rear tower balcony once provided access to the top floor of the tower via an outdoor stairway. The tower was originally designed as an observation deck where the veterans and their families could view the harbor and, on a clear day, Mount Washington in New Hampshire. By the 1910's it had been converted to a bedroom last occupied by Miss Adelaide Fenner. The balcony railing itself fell victim to the harsh climate and storms blowing in off the ocean many years ago.

Even the smallest details!
Photo by Don Perry

The project nears completion
Photo by Don Perry

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