Independent Firm Studying Potawatomi Tower Wood

Experts from Wood Research and Development completed three days of testing on the Potawatomi Tower last week to determine whether restoration is a viable option for the structure.

The Sturgeon Bay Historical Society hired the firm with cooperation from the Department of Natural Resources. The experts from Oregon used an 80-foot skylift to study the tower from top to bottom. The $28,000 study is being funded by the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society with matching funds from the Tingley Foundation.

The firm’s team of engineers will examine the data collected during inspection and produce a report for review by the DNR and historical society. The DNR announced in April that the tower would be removed due to safety concerns.