Click here to read a story by George Eckhardt.
By TODD WILSON
director of college relations
The Historic Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs has honored Colorado College for a seven-year project preserving and restoring our oldest structure, Cutler Hall. CC -- and restoration architect Michael Collins and original architects Peabody and Stearns -- was one of two winners in the civic architecture category, along with the Carnegie Library. The category included historic structures and monuments such as government buildings, universities, schools, museums, monuments, and religious structures, and sites or landscapes that are part of the public domain such as parks and medians. Submittals for the competition also were received from the Pioneer Museum, Fountain Valley School, and the Colorado Springs School.
"This is a well-deserved recognition for a fabulous piece of work by so many people at CC," said CC President Richard Celeste. "The college community should be proud."
In presenting the award to CC, HPA board member Sandra Chesrown said, "This truly great campus building, which exemplifies unique and extraordinary architecture important to our sense of place and community, has been lovingly and accurately restored, including high quality masonry work, exquisite wood shingle roof patterning, and sensitive interior design. This very accurate restoration reflects our city's pride in our history, and will allow the building to endure into the next century."
The awards were made during a gala celebration in early November at Colorado Springs School's Trianon, an historical jewel in its own right. Attending to accept the award were Gary Reynolds, George Eckhardt, Carl Brandenburg, and Don Crochet from facilities services. Andrea Lucard, Mark Hatch, and Todd Wilson also attended.
The Cutler renovation and restoration project began in 1995 with a grant to help the college catalog and evaluate its historic facilities. At about the same time, facilities services was investigating how to fix significant roof leaks in Cutler Hall.
"The building exterior was in need of very extensive repairs due to its 120 years exposed to the harsh Colorado environment," said Eckhardt, assistant director of facilities. "However, my goal was to do the repairs using historically sensitive methods and materials so that the building could be enjoyed as close as possible in its original state for another 100 years."
The project was made possible by three grants from the State Historical Fund of the Colorado Historical Society, supplemented with funds from the college. The project's finishing touches are being made now and should be completed before winter break. Landscaping will be done upon completion of the campus landscape architectural guidelines design, which is underway.
By George Eckhardt
assistant director of facilities
Background:
In looking through the project books I have organized to record the State Historical Fund grants, I have tried to recall how all the pieces of the puzzle fell together that led us to the first and subsequent applications for State Historical Society grant funds to do the much needed repairs on Cutler Hall. The building exterior was in need of very extensive repairs due to its 120 years exposed to the harsh Colorado environment. However, my goal was to do the repairs using historically sensitive methods and materials so that the building could be enjoyed as close as possible in its original state for another 100 years.
The concern over restoring Cutler Hall really started as the result of some bad roof leaks occurring in summer and fall of 1995. I found a condition report that I wrote describing what was found in an inspection of the Bell Tower conducted on January 10, 1996. Phil Rector, Facilities Director, George Eckhardt, Assistant Facilities Director, Fred Fletemeyer, General Contractor, and Ed Samberson, Structural Engineer crawled through the rafters up into the framed boxlike area below the cupola and then up into the cupola through a trap door. I believe I took Andrea Lucard up through that maze to show her the problems at some later time when we began considering applying for historic grants assistance. I had previously found the water leakage problems, but of even more concern was the fact that I had found so much "dry rot" in the exposed structural supports for the cupola that I could push a pencil through the paint and deep into the pine wood supports. The vertical corner supports appeared to be only 2 x 6's sandwiched together to give the appearance of being sturdy 6 x 6 support columns.
I was very concerned that a strong wind could easily topple the cupola off of the building roof. After all, I was there about 10 years before when about two tons of the limestone parapet capstone slid off the northwest roof edge during Homecoming, barely missing Barbara Yalich, who I believe was vice president for advancement at the time. We were just reminiscing about that close call at the recent Homecoming activities, 17 years later.
That may have been the same Homecoming in 1986 when President Gresham Riley stood on the Palmer Hall steps and announced the successful nominations for Cutler Hall and Palmer Hall, which were just added to the National Register of Historic Places. Also speaking was alumna Judy Rice-Jones, documents librarian at UCCS, and chairperson of the Colorado Springs Historic Resources Board. She gave the college procedural advice and helped generate interest in getting the historical recognition for Cutler and Palmer Halls. Attending the dedication where members of the City Council, City Planning Commission, WES Society, and Historic Property Alliance, which sounds like the predecessor of the Historic Preservation Alliance that recently presented an award to the college for the historic preservation work on Cutler Hall. This recognition for Cutler and Palmer halls was really the beginning of the college's active interest in preserving the historical heritage of the college and what Gresham Riley detailed as the "institutional memory of Colorado College."
At about the time I recognized the seriousness of the Cupola and roof problems, I read an article in the paper with a picture showing Fletemeyer Construction replacing a cupola on a church on Colorado Avenue. Fred Fletemeyer had recently donated an upgrade to the old hockey locker room in Cossitt Hall. I invited him to be involved in the project because I knew his company could do the work and they would care about the college. I can't remember exactly how I got Michael Collins Architects involved other than the fact that the firm did design work on Cutler Hall in 1982, just the year before I started work at the college. I had done some follow up on that project and knew Michael Collins, who also did design work in Palmer Hall. I knew he had an interest and respect for the historic buildings at Colorado College. He also had drawings of Cutler Hall on file. It turned out that the firm was also on the State Historical Society's list of recommended architects for doing Historical Fund grant work.
As soon as we started looking at costs estimates that were exceeding $200,000 to do basic Cupola and roof repairs to Cutler, it was obvious we had a real challenge on our hands. At the time, our capital project reserves could fund projects only up to $30,000 to $40,000 in size. Hence, conversations began between Elaine Freed and Andrea Lucard in the development office, and Jan Legoza, then-vice president for business and finance, about applying for a State Historical Fund grant. I believe that was a real uphill challenge for Elaine Freed at the time. We had successfully completed the "Colorado College Historic Preservation Project" study in December 1993, which was a historic survey and plan for the college Master Plan by Manning Architects, John Prosser Associates, and Winter & Company. This study was funded by a State Historical Fund grant. However, in 1995, Freed submitted several college properties for Historic Register nominations as follow-on to the historical study recommendations. Our nominations were turned down, unfortunately, due to confusion in the process and communications between the local government review group, the college, and the state government review group. We have come a long way since that early attempt. The college is well respected now by the local and state review groups for our thorough and quality applications and stewardship of projects which began with the "Cutler Hall Cupola and Roof Restoration" and "East Campus Historical Study and Demonstration Project" grants. The latter grant resulted in restoration of the house on Weber Street used by the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Then two additional grants were obtained for Cutler exterior restoration and two obtained for Bemis exterior restoration.
These projects have really demonstrated to the State Historic Society the college's expertise in writing compelling grants and executing quality historic preservation work. In fact, our SHF Technical Advisor, Nan Ricky, provided strong encouragement for me to apply for the grant to reconstruct the massive Jackson House front porch, even though the grant request is for a large amount. A grant of that magnitude is very rare, so we have our fingers crossed. Lucard and Ann Hatch prepared a grant request that is so compelling that it appears that Colorado Springs grew up around the Jackson House. I was impressed by the community support documents that accompanied the grant application. As we build on our successes in these projects, our community support grows even stronger, which in turn helps us prepare more convincing applications and have more visibly successful restorations. I was interviewed recently by a University of Colorado graduate student who is working with the Colorado State Historical Society to document the Cutler Hall and Bemis Hall restorations in a book about successful restorations to be illustrated by John Fielder, noted Colorado photographer. Pictures of completed Bemis and Cutler work will be taken this spring.
Due to financial limitations in making cash matches for the grants, the college had to submit for phased grants for the Cutler Hall restoration over about five year's time. We started out making a match of 40 percent to show our strong commitment to the Cutler preservation project, but later grants were achieved with the college matches being closer to the 25 percent minimum match requirements. In this way the college resources were stretched to maximize the grant assistance available in order to do more of the work needed on Cutler. Also, the college committed additional resources to restore the exterior steps and remodel the first floor without grant assistance.
Summary of the State Historical Fund Grants Awarded for Cutler Hall Restoration
Cutler Hall Cupola & Roof Restoration:
Started January, 1997; Grant $85,320
Cutler Hall Exterior Trim, Window, Stone Restoration:
Phase 1 March, 1999; Grant $74,406
Phase 2 July, 2000; Grant $81,608
Phase 3 October, 2001; Grant $83,500
Cutler Hall Final Masonry Restoration:
Started August, 2002; Grant $75,000
Restoration Highlights
After the Cupola was removed, project manager Drew Fletemeyer removed by hand approximately 800 pounds of pigeon droppings in 12 large leaf bags. He said he had to do the dirty work because he couldn't ask one of his employees to do it.
A new improved steel framework was built inside the attic box on top of the Cutler roof to support the cupola, which also had a separate steel framework built inside it for improved strength. Fletemeyer Construction found that the original wood framing construction was not very accurately laid out or even near square. The measurements for new support steel had to be designed with the irregular dimensions to fit inside the existing framing on the Cutler roof. Therefore, the steel framing constructed in the roof box and the new steel cupola support legs and bolt holes being constructed 10 miles from campus, had to be constructed to match up exactly when the cupola was set in place by a large crane. Everyone was amazed when the crane placed the cupola over the mounting bolt holes and the holes lined up nearly perfectly. Due to the irregular shape, the cupola would only fit one way, so there was no danger of remounting it backwards.
The newly constructed 11-foot steel spire that replicated the original spire seen in very old photos was then slipped into a sleeve at the top of the cupola. This spire was connected to the ground by a large copper cable to serve as a lightning rod. Lightning strikes along the ridge above Monument Creek are very common. The new chimney caps also have lighting arrestors installed on them.
The new cedar wood shingle roof replaced the residential style T-lock asphalt shingled roof that was leaking badly. Dal Solano, from Central States Roofing, took on the personal challenge and used his skills to replicate the diamond patterns in the new cedar wood roof shingles seen in original photographs. It was a real challenge to determine how to turn and cut the cedar shingles to achieve the original pattern while maintaining the waterproof integrity of the roof.
After the Cupola and roof projects were complete Fletemeyer Construction began rebuilding the exterior wood trim, west porch balcony, windows, and rebuilt the east entry doorway and interior archway. Everyone was amazed at the improvement resulting from restoring the round window above the entry door that had been boarded over. Also, the lowered entry ceiling was returned to full height and the interior arch was recreated and trimmed with wood. The window restoration project included removing paint and re-staining the window sash frames on the inside. Because of financial limitations, it did not include re-staining all of the interior window casework. However, to demonstrate the beauty of the stained casework, the window casework in the important visitor conference room was stained. This demonstration led to staining of all the first floor casework, and adding wood door trim and wood molding trim throughout the first floor during the first floor remodel this past summer.
If the project wasn't already a great success and going better than expected, the college was very fortunate to find a stone restoration specialist in Craig Nelson and his crew from Professional Restoration and Repair Company. There is probably only one other company in Colorado professionally trained in the type of stone and mortar repairs prescribed by the Historical Standards and Guidelines written by the Department of Interior. Enough cannot be said about the quality of work that has been done and the tedious and detailed process involved in removing deteriorated stones, parts of stones, and deteriorated mortar joints, then rebuilding them to like new condition. Craig Nelson is a technical "perfectionist" who really examines details of problems and recommends carefully thought out solutions. Craig has helped solve many challenging restoration problems around the campus. His crew did the beautiful caulking and repair work on the Palmer Hall front stone steps. Every one of the limestone roof parapet caps, similar to the ones that slid off during Homecoming in 1986, have been repaired and have been pinned in place. Some of them were 50 percent deteriorated and rebuilt. Only a couple had to be replaced. Some decorative stone pieces at the pinnacles of gables were about ready to fall. The bonding mortar was deteriorated and the stones were lifted easily by hand. The stone repair was long overdue, but only in recent times were the lasting repair products and techniques available. The stone repair product is called Jahn mortar. It is a Swedish product that bonds to stone, looks like the original stone but is stronger. The stone repair mortar has the same freeze-thaw characteristics of the stone in our climate, which means it could outlast the stone.
High upon the pinnacle above the front entry to Cutler was found an inscription carved in the stone top, J. Bruce, May 11, 1880. He may have been the stonemason who set the stone cap on its perch above the east entry to Cutler Hall.
Professional Restoration owner Craig Nelson had taken such a personal interest in the restoration of Cutler Hall that he found an unusually large supply of used sandstone steps in a Denver "used stone and brick" yard. Craig suggested that we should replace the concrete steps at Cutler that were formed over the top of the original sandstone steps in the 1950s. These used steps were in excellent condition and were obtained for a fraction of new cost. It was rumored that they were recovered from a building demolished on the University of Denver campus years earlier. So these steps may be just continuing to provide a service for many more footsteps in the educational heritage of Colorado.
Also see photos and news reports from the 1997 Cutler cupola restoration.
Oldest College Building Wins Historic Preservation Award
By TODD WILSONdirector of college relations
The Historic Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs has honored Colorado College for a seven-year project preserving and restoring our oldest structure, Cutler Hall. CC -- and restoration architect Michael Collins and original architects Peabody and Stearns -- was one of two winners in the civic architecture category, along with the Carnegie Library. The category included historic structures and monuments such as government buildings, universities, schools, museums, monuments, and religious structures, and sites or landscapes that are part of the public domain such as parks and medians. Submittals for the competition also were received from the Pioneer Museum, Fountain Valley School, and the Colorado Springs School.
"This is a well-deserved recognition for a fabulous piece of work by so many people at CC," said CC President Richard Celeste. "The college community should be proud."
In presenting the award to CC, HPA board member Sandra Chesrown said, "This truly great campus building, which exemplifies unique and extraordinary architecture important to our sense of place and community, has been lovingly and accurately restored, including high quality masonry work, exquisite wood shingle roof patterning, and sensitive interior design. This very accurate restoration reflects our city's pride in our history, and will allow the building to endure into the next century."
The awards were made during a gala celebration in early November at Colorado Springs School's Trianon, an historical jewel in its own right. Attending to accept the award were Gary Reynolds, George Eckhardt, Carl Brandenburg, and Don Crochet from facilities services. Andrea Lucard, Mark Hatch, and Todd Wilson also attended.
The Cutler renovation and restoration project began in 1995 with a grant to help the college catalog and evaluate its historic facilities. At about the same time, facilities services was investigating how to fix significant roof leaks in Cutler Hall. "The building exterior was in need of very extensive repairs due to its 120 years exposed to the harsh Colorado environment," said Eckhardt, assistant director of facilities. "However, my goal was to do the repairs using historically sensitive methods and materials so that the building could be enjoyed as close as possible in its original state for another 100 years."
The project was made possible by three grants from the State Historical Fund of the Colorado Historical Society, supplemented with funds from the college. The project's finishing touches are being made now and should be completed before winter break. Landscaping will be done upon completion of the campus landscape architectural guidelines design, which is underway.
Background and Highlights of the Cutler Hall Preservation Work, 1996-2002
By George Eckhardtassistant director of facilities
Background:
In looking through the project books I have organized to record the State Historical Fund grants, I have tried to recall how all the pieces of the puzzle fell together that led us to the first and subsequent applications for State Historical Society grant funds to do the much needed repairs on Cutler Hall. The building exterior was in need of very extensive repairs due to its 120 years exposed to the harsh Colorado environment. However, my goal was to do the repairs using historically sensitive methods and materials so that the building could be enjoyed as close as possible in its original state for another 100 years.
The concern over restoring Cutler Hall really started as the result of some bad roof leaks occurring in summer and fall of 1995. I found a condition report that I wrote describing what was found in an inspection of the Bell Tower conducted on January 10, 1996. Phil Rector, Facilities Director, George Eckhardt, Assistant Facilities Director, Fred Fletemeyer, General Contractor, and Ed Samberson, Structural Engineer crawled through the rafters up into the framed boxlike area below the cupola and then up into the cupola through a trap door. I believe I took Andrea Lucard up through that maze to show her the problems at some later time when we began considering applying for historic grants assistance. I had previously found the water leakage problems, but of even more concern was the fact that I had found so much "dry rot" in the exposed structural supports for the cupola that I could push a pencil through the paint and deep into the pine wood supports. The vertical corner supports appeared to be only 2 x 6's sandwiched together to give the appearance of being sturdy 6 x 6 support columns.
I was very concerned that a strong wind could easily topple the cupola off of the building roof. After all, I was there about 10 years before when about two tons of the limestone parapet capstone slid off the northwest roof edge during Homecoming, barely missing Barbara Yalich, who I believe was vice president for advancement at the time. We were just reminiscing about that close call at the recent Homecoming activities, 17 years later.
That may have been the same Homecoming in 1986 when President Gresham Riley stood on the Palmer Hall steps and announced the successful nominations for Cutler Hall and Palmer Hall, which were just added to the National Register of Historic Places. Also speaking was alumna Judy Rice-Jones, documents librarian at UCCS, and chairperson of the Colorado Springs Historic Resources Board. She gave the college procedural advice and helped generate interest in getting the historical recognition for Cutler and Palmer Halls. Attending the dedication where members of the City Council, City Planning Commission, WES Society, and Historic Property Alliance, which sounds like the predecessor of the Historic Preservation Alliance that recently presented an award to the college for the historic preservation work on Cutler Hall. This recognition for Cutler and Palmer halls was really the beginning of the college's active interest in preserving the historical heritage of the college and what Gresham Riley detailed as the "institutional memory of Colorado College."
At about the time I recognized the seriousness of the Cupola and roof problems, I read an article in the paper with a picture showing Fletemeyer Construction replacing a cupola on a church on Colorado Avenue. Fred Fletemeyer had recently donated an upgrade to the old hockey locker room in Cossitt Hall. I invited him to be involved in the project because I knew his company could do the work and they would care about the college. I can't remember exactly how I got Michael Collins Architects involved other than the fact that the firm did design work on Cutler Hall in 1982, just the year before I started work at the college. I had done some follow up on that project and knew Michael Collins, who also did design work in Palmer Hall. I knew he had an interest and respect for the historic buildings at Colorado College. He also had drawings of Cutler Hall on file. It turned out that the firm was also on the State Historical Society's list of recommended architects for doing Historical Fund grant work.
As soon as we started looking at costs estimates that were exceeding $200,000 to do basic Cupola and roof repairs to Cutler, it was obvious we had a real challenge on our hands. At the time, our capital project reserves could fund projects only up to $30,000 to $40,000 in size. Hence, conversations began between Elaine Freed and Andrea Lucard in the development office, and Jan Legoza, then-vice president for business and finance, about applying for a State Historical Fund grant. I believe that was a real uphill challenge for Elaine Freed at the time. We had successfully completed the "Colorado College Historic Preservation Project" study in December 1993, which was a historic survey and plan for the college Master Plan by Manning Architects, John Prosser Associates, and Winter & Company. This study was funded by a State Historical Fund grant. However, in 1995, Freed submitted several college properties for Historic Register nominations as follow-on to the historical study recommendations. Our nominations were turned down, unfortunately, due to confusion in the process and communications between the local government review group, the college, and the state government review group. We have come a long way since that early attempt. The college is well respected now by the local and state review groups for our thorough and quality applications and stewardship of projects which began with the "Cutler Hall Cupola and Roof Restoration" and "East Campus Historical Study and Demonstration Project" grants. The latter grant resulted in restoration of the house on Weber Street used by the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Then two additional grants were obtained for Cutler exterior restoration and two obtained for Bemis exterior restoration.
These projects have really demonstrated to the State Historic Society the college's expertise in writing compelling grants and executing quality historic preservation work. In fact, our SHF Technical Advisor, Nan Ricky, provided strong encouragement for me to apply for the grant to reconstruct the massive Jackson House front porch, even though the grant request is for a large amount. A grant of that magnitude is very rare, so we have our fingers crossed. Lucard and Ann Hatch prepared a grant request that is so compelling that it appears that Colorado Springs grew up around the Jackson House. I was impressed by the community support documents that accompanied the grant application. As we build on our successes in these projects, our community support grows even stronger, which in turn helps us prepare more convincing applications and have more visibly successful restorations. I was interviewed recently by a University of Colorado graduate student who is working with the Colorado State Historical Society to document the Cutler Hall and Bemis Hall restorations in a book about successful restorations to be illustrated by John Fielder, noted Colorado photographer. Pictures of completed Bemis and Cutler work will be taken this spring.
Due to financial limitations in making cash matches for the grants, the college had to submit for phased grants for the Cutler Hall restoration over about five year's time. We started out making a match of 40 percent to show our strong commitment to the Cutler preservation project, but later grants were achieved with the college matches being closer to the 25 percent minimum match requirements. In this way the college resources were stretched to maximize the grant assistance available in order to do more of the work needed on Cutler. Also, the college committed additional resources to restore the exterior steps and remodel the first floor without grant assistance.
Summary of the State Historical Fund Grants Awarded for Cutler Hall Restoration
Cutler Hall Cupola & Roof Restoration:
Started January, 1997; Grant $85,320
Cutler Hall Exterior Trim, Window, Stone Restoration:
Phase 1 March, 1999; Grant $74,406
Phase 2 July, 2000; Grant $81,608
Phase 3 October, 2001; Grant $83,500
Cutler Hall Final Masonry Restoration:
Started August, 2002; Grant $75,000
Restoration Highlights
After the Cupola was removed, project manager Drew Fletemeyer removed by hand approximately 800 pounds of pigeon droppings in 12 large leaf bags. He said he had to do the dirty work because he couldn't ask one of his employees to do it.
A new improved steel framework was built inside the attic box on top of the Cutler roof to support the cupola, which also had a separate steel framework built inside it for improved strength. Fletemeyer Construction found that the original wood framing construction was not very accurately laid out or even near square. The measurements for new support steel had to be designed with the irregular dimensions to fit inside the existing framing on the Cutler roof. Therefore, the steel framing constructed in the roof box and the new steel cupola support legs and bolt holes being constructed 10 miles from campus, had to be constructed to match up exactly when the cupola was set in place by a large crane. Everyone was amazed when the crane placed the cupola over the mounting bolt holes and the holes lined up nearly perfectly. Due to the irregular shape, the cupola would only fit one way, so there was no danger of remounting it backwards.
The newly constructed 11-foot steel spire that replicated the original spire seen in very old photos was then slipped into a sleeve at the top of the cupola. This spire was connected to the ground by a large copper cable to serve as a lightning rod. Lightning strikes along the ridge above Monument Creek are very common. The new chimney caps also have lighting arrestors installed on them.
The new cedar wood shingle roof replaced the residential style T-lock asphalt shingled roof that was leaking badly. Dal Solano, from Central States Roofing, took on the personal challenge and used his skills to replicate the diamond patterns in the new cedar wood roof shingles seen in original photographs. It was a real challenge to determine how to turn and cut the cedar shingles to achieve the original pattern while maintaining the waterproof integrity of the roof.
After the Cupola and roof projects were complete Fletemeyer Construction began rebuilding the exterior wood trim, west porch balcony, windows, and rebuilt the east entry doorway and interior archway. Everyone was amazed at the improvement resulting from restoring the round window above the entry door that had been boarded over. Also, the lowered entry ceiling was returned to full height and the interior arch was recreated and trimmed with wood. The window restoration project included removing paint and re-staining the window sash frames on the inside. Because of financial limitations, it did not include re-staining all of the interior window casework. However, to demonstrate the beauty of the stained casework, the window casework in the important visitor conference room was stained. This demonstration led to staining of all the first floor casework, and adding wood door trim and wood molding trim throughout the first floor during the first floor remodel this past summer.
If the project wasn't already a great success and going better than expected, the college was very fortunate to find a stone restoration specialist in Craig Nelson and his crew from Professional Restoration and Repair Company. There is probably only one other company in Colorado professionally trained in the type of stone and mortar repairs prescribed by the Historical Standards and Guidelines written by the Department of Interior. Enough cannot be said about the quality of work that has been done and the tedious and detailed process involved in removing deteriorated stones, parts of stones, and deteriorated mortar joints, then rebuilding them to like new condition. Craig Nelson is a technical "perfectionist" who really examines details of problems and recommends carefully thought out solutions. Craig has helped solve many challenging restoration problems around the campus. His crew did the beautiful caulking and repair work on the Palmer Hall front stone steps. Every one of the limestone roof parapet caps, similar to the ones that slid off during Homecoming in 1986, have been repaired and have been pinned in place. Some of them were 50 percent deteriorated and rebuilt. Only a couple had to be replaced. Some decorative stone pieces at the pinnacles of gables were about ready to fall. The bonding mortar was deteriorated and the stones were lifted easily by hand. The stone repair was long overdue, but only in recent times were the lasting repair products and techniques available. The stone repair product is called Jahn mortar. It is a Swedish product that bonds to stone, looks like the original stone but is stronger. The stone repair mortar has the same freeze-thaw characteristics of the stone in our climate, which means it could outlast the stone.
High upon the pinnacle above the front entry to Cutler was found an inscription carved in the stone top, J. Bruce, May 11, 1880. He may have been the stonemason who set the stone cap on its perch above the east entry to Cutler Hall.Professional Restoration owner Craig Nelson had taken such a personal interest in the restoration of Cutler Hall that he found an unusually large supply of used sandstone steps in a Denver "used stone and brick" yard. Craig suggested that we should replace the concrete steps at Cutler that were formed over the top of the original sandstone steps in the 1950s. These used steps were in excellent condition and were obtained for a fraction of new cost. It was rumored that they were recovered from a building demolished on the University of Denver campus years earlier. So these steps may be just continuing to provide a service for many more footsteps in the educational heritage of Colorado.
Also see photos and news reports from the 1997 Cutler cupola restoration.