South Attic Level Masonry, Terracotta and Window Restoration

The Brown County Museum has been located in the former New Ulm Post Office building since 1985.The historic building in New Ulm, Minnesota, United States was built in 1909 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 28, 1970. The building is significant as it reflects local German culture of the founders of New Ulm in 1854 and population at the time it was built. 

The building has survived three direct lightning strikes with the resulting masonry and terracotta damage creating numerous problems. Several of the terracotta gabled ends or steps were broken and cracks were created in the brick structure itself allowing water to migrate through the thirteen-inch-thick walls weakening the mortar and over time, resulting in continuing deterioration.

On the south side, third elevation of the Old Post Office building, paint was removed from the terra cotta and the terra cotta was patched and re-coated; damaged bricks were removed and replaced with matched bricks and the existing wood windows were restored. The terra cotta and brick were tuckpointed as needed. Through the wall flashing was installed to protect the brick against moisture infiltration through the top wall.
 
Completion to Phase 3 of a multi-year (4-phase project) process is the third step for the total restoration of the most unique building in New Ulm, Brown County, MN. It completes another major step in protecting the structure from water mitigation and with the restoration of the windows and prevention of insect intrusion. This generational restoration work on the Old Post Office building, which expresses the origins of Brown County and especially New Ulm, will allow the unique architecture to remain unaltered. The building will be preserved for future generations.