News

St. Marks finishes renovation project

By Scott Wagar

02/10/2015

Members of St. Marks Catholic Church has completed the renovation work in their church’s basement which has brought new elements of design into the church along with keeping some of the traditional architecture of the building. 

Last February, it was decided by the church to renovate the basement after dealing with alkali issues and fear the salt substance could reach to the outside walls and destroy the foundation of the church.

With the decision to fix the alkali issue, which meant taking the basement down to its frame, rafters and removing the concrete floor, the members made plans to make renovations as they began to build the church’s basement up again. 

Prior to the project, the basement had three Sunday school rooms, a kitchen and environment room.   

There are now four Sunday school rooms; service rooms, an environment room; an open area for Bible studies, meetings and community events like carving turkeys for St. Marks fall supper and the kitchen has become a quilting room.

Some of the original architectural pieces are still present in the basement like light fixtures, supply rooms and bathroom and closet doors with their ornate doorknobs.

When it comes to the plumbing and electricity, prior to the renovation work, the basement had only cold running water and only one switch for all the lights in the basement. 

The bathrooms now have heated water, the rooms have their own light switches and the basement is completely heated through the floor.      

Marc Nelson was the contractor for the floor; MK Electric performed the electrical work; while the parishioners of the church carried out the majority of the carpentry renovations with Bottineau High School’s Math Club assisting in the painting parts of the basement.

Repairing the floor was no easy task for the church. When the cement floor was removed Nelson expected to find dry dirt, but found layers of mud instead. It was discovered that the drainage lines, which were placed in the 1950s, had disintegrated over the years and any water under the structure was not draining but staying under the church.

The mud had to be removed, new gravel and dirt had to be brought in, with new line and tiling before the cement and floor heat could be installed.

With the basement completed, Catholic Youth classes started last Wednesday evening again in the basement, while the parish is enjoying the renovations they now have to do God’s work within the church and community.

Donna Porter, who headed up the project for St. Marks parish, is pleased with the rehabilitated basement.

“It is brighter and it is cleaner,” Porter said with a smile. “It is pretty nice.” 

Father Michael Hickin, priest of St. Marks Catholic Church, is happy with the finished project. 

“I am super pleased with the basement,” Hickin said. “It was a long time coming. It is beautiful and we are looking forward to using it. I’m extremely grateful to everyone who lent a hand in making that happen. We praise the Lord for it.”