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History of Construction - Back
to History
The following information was taken from the construction
video of the conversation between John Rasmussen and Kenneth
Johnson, the foreman of Kyburz-Carlson Construction of
Aberdeen:
THE NICOLLET TOWER CONSTRUCTION
1. Cement pillars are 18 feet into the ground with approximately
four feet above the ground. The width of each pillar is
36 inches with anchoring straps placed two feet into the
cement. The footings each took one five-yard load of cement.
2. The poles are Douglas fir that were shipped here from
Idaho by truck. Each pole is approximately 75 feet long
and weights 5,000 pounds. They are 70 to 80 years old.
The poles were notched to fit the angle straps. Twenty-four
inch bolts each one-inch in diameter were used. There
are six bolts in each pole. A 19-inch bit was used to
drill half way through each pole, then they drilled
from the opposite direction. It took one and a half
hours to set each pole on a calm day, Poles were tied
at about 60 feet to be pulled into place by the crane.
Poles were left flat on the bottom and then were grouted
to fill in crack at base. Each pole has guide wires
for stability. Each pole has 80 feet of guide wire per
pole. The center pole has four guide wires and the outer
poles have two.
3. Scaffolding was set up 40 feet. After first platform
was constructed they could scaffold up from there. A
lot of heavy treated wood was used. There is a total
of 6,500 pounds of bolts and steel in the structure
and there are NO NAILS. There are 96 steps to the top.
The tower is 80 feet high at the peak. Each floor is
20 feet above the other.
4. A similar tower is located in Galena, Illinois,
overlooking an unglaciated valley called the "driftless
area.''
5. The tower and interpretive center were built at
the same time. Construction dates were May 1991 to June
1992 with the dedication taking place in October bf
199I.
THE INTERPRETIVE CENTER CONSTRUCTION:
1. Local native Clarence Herges of Aberdeen was the architect
who donated the plans.
Construction was by Kyburz-Calrson Construction of Aberdeen,
SD.
2. Footings were dug by backhoe June 1991 and the forms
set.
3. There is 2,400 square feet of space in the building.
It took one week to build the exterior walls, which
are a rough finish block. This type of design took three
times longer than a square building.
4. The laminated beams are set on the back wall and
rest on on columns at the front of the building. The
roof is made of heavy plywood, a heavy rubber skin and
washed oversize rock.
5. Cost of the project was over $335,000.
There were no federal, state or county funds used for
this project. This was all accomplished with donations
by seven interested persons, all over 70 years of age.
6. The building may be reserved for appropriate meetings
for a fee. Please contact the board of Directors for
the Heritage Museum, PO Box 215, Sisseton, SD 57262
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