WORKERS HIT WATER WHILE DIGGING HOLE FOR LJ. SCHULTZ ELEVATOR

Construction workers digging an elevator for L.J. Schultz Middle School struck water when they hit a natural spring at the site.

The incident slowed work for a short time, but installation of the elevator is back under way in the 77-year-old building.

The work was also delayed early in the project because asbestos had to be removed from the building.

The delays probably mean final work on the elevator will be completed after school starts, said architect Tom Holshouser.

The elevator will be operational during the coming school year, he said.

"We found an underground flow of water about five feet below the basement floor," Holshouser said.

When an elevator is installed, a pit is dug four feet below the existing basement.

"I believe we have got it under control," he said. "The pit is well-water proofed. We don't expect it to leak, but we have a sump pump in the pit for the elevator just in case."

The pump will operate around the clock to keep the water out.

Holshouser said apparently the building was built on a low area that was filled with dirt. "It might have been a little valley with a natural flow of water," he said.

The elevator is being placed at the front of Schultz School, where the north addition joins the original building. It will serve four floors.

Larry Dew, business manager for the school district, said Sides Construction Co., is installing the elevator at a cost of $131,550.

Holshouser said: "The foundation work is all completed and they are supposed to have the shaft drilled Monday. Masons start the first of the week, also."

Part of the project is construction of a four-story elevator tower on the outside of the building. A new entrance also will be constructed to the building.

"All the brick and cut stone will match the existing stonework," Holshouser said. The elevator tower is being built to seismic specifications, even though the rest of the building is not.

The elevator is a hydraulic lift, the same as the elevator installed two years ago at Cape Girardeau Central High School.

"This is about the safest kind, and for minimum usage it's the best choice," Holshouser said.

"The elevator is basically being installed to make the building handicap accessible. It's not 100 percent accessible, but it is close."

Dew said, "We will still have to put in some ramps to serve the cafeteria, art rooms and music rooms to make those areas accessible.

Students and staff authorized to use the elevator will be issued a key; it will not be used by the general student population. Dew said the elevator also will be used by maintenance and custodial personnel.

The building was built in 1914. An annex was added in 1919. The building served as the city's high school, and, in 1953, it was remodeled and became the junior high. In 1965 it was dedicated as the seventh-grade attendance center.