Construction on new Fort Kaskaskia shelter begins

Construction is beginning on the new shelter house at Fort Kaskaskia state historic site, north of Chester, following the Randolph County Board's awarding of the project to Gateway F.S. of Red Bud last week.

Chester Wingerter, site superintendent at Fort Kaskaskia, said the construction site would be cordoned off this week. Fencing would be put up around the structure and adjacent parking area, he said, but there will be some public access to the rock wall overlook area.

The road in front of the shelter will be passable during construction, Wingertner said, since the camping area will continue to remain open. The smaller shelters at the north and south ends of the park and the stage area down the hill and across from the shelter area will be open and available for use.

The county board approved Gateway F.S.'s bid of $98,820 for the project at its Aug. 17 meeting. Greg Birchler is the head of Gateway's construction division. County architect Mike Schneider of Quadrant Design, Inc. (Waterloo & Sparta) designed the projected structure. Initially two companies indicated interest in submitting bids, but Gateway was the only company to do so.

In addition to the construction of the shelter, the bid includes an electrical system with a 100 amp box with conduit to the corners of the building, providing electrical outlets. County Board Chairman Marc Kiehna said electrical lines will be laid under the road in front of the shelter. It is probable that outdoor lighting will be installed at some point.

The original shelter was destroyed by a fire in 2012. Since then, Kiehna said the remaining stone corners of the damaged structure have been partially worn by weather and by people climbing on them. Plans are for a stone mason to repair and tuck point the corners.

He said recent fundraising for the project netted a total of approximately $99,700. It is planned that the small amount of money left over will be used to purchase plaques that will give credit to those who have donated $1,000 or more to the project.

Meanwhile, Wingerter said he is making every effort to contact people who had been hoping to have wedding ceremonies during the next couple of months at the site of the damaged structure. He said he will do everything he can to accommodate families by assisting them in finding other locations at the park to have their ceremonies.

Anyone needing to contact Wingerter can call the site office at (618) 859-3741.