Weather delays move for National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

CEDAR RAPIDS – Rain hampered today's efforts for further progress in moving the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

“The road is too wet; the metal plates are too wet,” said museum spokeswoman Diana Baculis. “Mother Nature just did not cooperate for us, even for two days.”

Baculis said crews with Jeremy Patterson Structural Moving and Shoring of Washington, Iowa, had hoped to turn the building 90 degrees today and continue its move toward the new, elevated foundation away from its site on the Cedar River at 30 16

^th

Ave. SW.

Wednesday night's pelting rains create divots in the road built for the move, so pumping out the puddles and regrading the road might be necessary, she said.

Just after noon today, Jan Stoffer, the museum's director of operations, said the pivot would hopefully be happening Saturday. Weather is predicted to improve by then.

Crews on Wednesday moved the building about 240 feet using hydraulic dollies and turned all of the dollies to prepare the building for rotation.

The river-facing side of the museum will become the front of the building when it is placed on its new foundation.

Baculis said workers will be cleaning the area of debris today.