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CORUNNA, Mich. -- Standing beside a lavish staircase in the Shiawassee County Courthouse, Phil Heavilin reflected on the building's strength and character.
"These materials far excel anything you'd use in a current building," he said, referring to the stone, cast iron, brick and solid wood used in the days before plywood and cinder blocks became commonplace. "It's the same materials used in the Old World, and those buildings have lasted 700 or 800 years -- this building was built to last just as long, if taken care of."
Heavilin, as the county superintendent of buildings and grounds, is responsible for upkeep and maintenance of the building. The structure was completed in 1906 after about two years of work and houses the circuit court, the county clerk's office, register of deeds and other vital county offices.
Reinforcement and renovation of the century-old Citizens Fire Company building in Tamaqua would cost at least $88,241, bids for the work opened Monday show.
Tamaqua Area Community Partnership opened three bids, with apparent low bidder JEM Contracting of Schuylkill Haven submitting a base offer of $88,241.
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MIAMI, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- A 1950s-era house and two V-8 engines may help Florida scientists learn which construction materials and methods better withstand hurricane winds. Studying construction methods and materials and how they withstand hurricanes' wind and water can prevent future damage, the Miami Herald said Friday. Florida International University's International Hurricane Research Center and Laboratory for Coastal Research scientists used the V-8 engines to produce winds of 115 mph, which they trained on the condemned to learn on how older buildings fare, the Herald said. Authorities said improving building against storms stronger is the best way to corral insurance costs, the Herald said. Insurers tend to charge higher premiums on older homes, assuming the dwellings won't fare will in storms because they were built under less rigorous standards.
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