The Hacker Nelson building in downtown Decorah is now renovated

A two-year project to restore the Hacker Nelson building on Water Street in downtown Decorah is now finished.

Hacker Nelson CPA Neil Schraeder says extensive work was performed by Ralph Brown and his crew from Full House Restoration of Sherrill, Iowa.  The contractor replaced bricks and limestone blocks that had eroded or deteriorated over the years.

When Brown first visited Decorah to look at the building, he saw water leaking into an upstairs office and told the accounting firm, "You can't wait until spring" to start preserving the building.

The turret on the building needed to be rebuilt from the roof down.  Replacement bricks had to be specially cut because of the rounded shape of the building. 

"We felt this was a landmark in Decorah," says Schraeder, so the work began.

"We're pleased with the results," he concludes.  Scaffolding around the building has been removed and work is complete.