The iconic steps at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church are getting demolished.
An overhaul of the steep entranceway to the historic church is underway in Stratford.
Heavy equipment can be seen from Huron Street, tearing away the stairs, which have been in place as long as the church has been in the city, said property manger, Michael Lynch.
Lynch said they are an instantly recognizable part of the community.
“So many people have used these stairs here at St. Joseph’s, they are iconic, they are historic…so many weddings, so many funerals, so many masses…we have many visitors come and just take pictures on the steps of St. Joseph’s.”
Although some work has been completed on the steps over the years, wear and tear has set in, so it’s essentially a complete re-do, Lynch said.
New steps will include a heating feature to greatly assist with winter maintenance.
Although St. Joseph’s has undergone a number of major renovations, to the interior and exterior, the last major renovation to the stairs was back in the 1970’s.
The cost is expected to be around $1 million.
The demolition has taken longer than anticipated mainly due to a solid infrastructure in place, but Lynch said work should be done by end of August.
Crews have jack hammered for four days this week through heavy rain.
Lynch said the new stairs will serve as a perfect entrance and gathering place for future generations.
“It’s definitely something the community recognizes and we as a parish certainly understand the significance of them. We want to make sure they are here for more generations.”
A fundraising campaign – Stepping up for St. Joseph’s – started in February with a gala kick off that raised $45,000. John McDermott is also scheduled to perform a couple of fundraising concerts in September.
