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RAMSEY TOWN HALL, Ramsey, Minnesota <br />Exterior Wall <br />There are clay masonry walls defining the <br />exterior bounds of the basement. It is the <br />same Chaska brick that covers the exterior <br />fagade of the building. <br />Directly under the upper floor, there appears <br />to be a wooden lath covered with a type of <br />cementitious material. It extends down for <br />about one foot. The extent the cementitious <br />material covers the lath varies throughout. <br />A window in the wall is visible across the crawl <br />space on the West facade. It appears to be <br />original and is covered from the outside. The <br />original construction may have included a <br />similar window mirrored on the North facade. <br />Recommendations <br />The brick and lath system, which appears to <br />be original, is performing well. There does not <br />appear to be holes or cracks to the exterior <br />elements. <br />Standard 5 states property characterizing <br />elements should be preserved, making the <br />original window is of interest. Even if <br />reinstallation is not desired, the window <br />should be inspected and removed intact if <br />possible. The hole after window removal can <br />be filled with brick to match the historic. <br />2 — Exterior Basement V`vii;u" <br />Figure 43 — Wall with <br />Floor Joists <br />The structure of the upper floor is wooden <br />floor joists supported on the side exterior <br />faces of the building. A large beam that runs <br />down the center of the structure also <br />supports them. The joists appear to be <br />largely original; however, there are some <br />places where replacement sawn lumber has <br />been installed <br />There is wooden cross bracing between each <br />of the joists. They are attached with nails; <br />however, the cross bracing appears to be <br />disconnected. <br />Recommendations <br />The joists appear to be structurally stable; <br />however, an engineer should conduct an <br />analysis on their capacity in order to provide <br />more insight. Reinforcements may need to be <br />added. <br />The current lumber floor joist reinforcements <br />and replacements are acceptable. If possible, <br />any future replacements should resemble the <br />historic joists as per Standard 6. <br />The necessity for the cross bracing should be <br />determined by an engineer. If they are <br />unnecessary, it may be appropriate to remove <br />the bracing from the system as it does not add <br />historic significance. <br />Ramsey Town Hall 17 <br />