June 7 - July 14, 1999
Fulton, IL, USA - Construction of the Octagon -Phase 4
The final phase of the completion of the 35 feet high octagon is the exterior, vertical lining with red cedar, patiently applied by Guus Zantinga and Eric Ufkes. The wheather helped during this phase: more familiar summer temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It almost began to feel like a good old Dutch summer...
As
soon as the red cedar lengths covered the octagon completely, the final
touches called for the attention of the Dutch workers. Less wide lengths
of red cedar wood were used to cover the seams between the previous lengths
of red cedar.
This was done side after side.
When
the last of the eight sides (the work almost completed) was reached, this
called for a little ceremonial act for posterity.
The business cards of those present were attached to the interior side
of the last of the horizontally
applied finishing length of wood all the way up on the octagon.
After this, autographs were put on the length of red cedar to go with the business cards.
Mayor Paul Sikkema of Fulton signing the last of the lengths of red cedar.
From left to right: Paul Sikkema, mayor of Fulton; Mike Kramer, The Fulton Journal, future volunteer miller and a big help on Saturdays during the construction; Guus Zantinga of Molema Mill builders, project manager drs. Bert Bulder of Lowlands Management; and Eric Ufkes of Molema Mill builders.
Then
Eric and Guus nailed this last lenght to the octagon.
When in a hundred and fifty to two hundred years from now the first maintenance
work will have to be performed on the red cedar siding, future workers
will discover the cards and signatures of those present when this last
length of wood was attached on July 10 of 1999.