Work on eyesore a sight for sore eyes

Tuesday morning saw the beginning of one of the most anxiously anticipated roofing projects in the history of the county.

Workers from Advantage Plus Roofing out of Talladega climbed atop the Randolph County Historical Museum building on Main Street in Roanoke and began a project that has been years in the making and even more years overdue to take place.

The leaky roof wreaked havoc on the building’s interior and caused the museum to be shut down several years ago. The moisture that got into the building also created an expensive mold problem that further complicated the renovation of the building.

But the renovation efforts got a shot in the arm last September when the City of Roanoke received the donated deed to the building from the Museum organization.

The work that began Tuesday was a welcome sight for those who know the struggles of the former U.S. Post Office building and the journey it has taken into its current state of disrepair.

“This gorgeous lady is getting a new crown!” read a post on the Randolph County Historical Museum’s Facebook page. “A little over 80 years old but with a facelift she’s going to be new again soon!”

Local historian and Handley High School history teacher Merredith Sears re-posted the Museum’s pictures and wrote, “For those of us who love history too, this is a beautiful sight!”

The roof work comes on the heels of the removal of the two magnolia trees that once flanked the sides of the building. Those trees had to be taken out in order for roofing crews to get the necessary access to the roof.

Once the roof is done, work will continue on renovations of the interior. No specific timeline has been set for when that work will be done.