Restoration Progresses at Basilica At St. Josephat

The restoration efforts at the Basilica of St. Josaphat in Milwaukee continued Monday morning. Contractors lifted one of five separate 9,000 pound stones on the exterior of the basilica.

They are replacing missing or cracked sandstone blocks.

The church, which was built in 1901 by Polish immigrants, was built with materials from an old post office in Chicago.

The blocks that were installed Monday are actually from the same quarry in Ohio as the original blocks.

The look should be pretty seamless, but as you can image the installation has to be done very delicately. 

The St Josephat Basilica Foundation says this is needed to protect everything inside.

"We've got one of a kind artworks, stain glass windows, mirrors, all things that are irreplaceable so we want to make sure that the inside is continue to be preserved by taking care of the outside," said Susan Rabe, President of the St Josephat Basilica Foundation.