Repairs and Renovations to Hillsboro's Old Stone School Begin

On June 23, the contract to repair the fire damage to Hillsboro’s Old Stone School was awarded to Zurschmeide Contracting, a general contractor located in the Hillsboro area. Just a few finishing touches are still needed. View all photos, or only the most recent photos.

“It is a real benefit to have a local company making the repairs to the Old Stone School,” said Mark Ware, President of the Hillsboro Community Association (HCA), the non-profit organization responsible for preserving and maintaining the Old Stone School. “Zurschmeide Contracting is reliable and their work is high quality. I am confident in their dedication to preserving the historic nature of the building. They have already taken additional time and effort to preserve the materials from the building. And, they are doing all they can to get the auditorium ready so we can have it open for our annual Independence Day Celebration, which will be Saturday, July 5. Zurschmeide Contracting is a great company with a real sense of community.”

While insurance is going to cover most of the loss and damage from the fire, the value of some items have been depreciated so much that the payment won’t cover the replacement cost.

“While we are accepting donations to help cover shortfalls from the insurance payment, we are also asking for contributions of funds and materials so we can start making additional planned renovations to improve the structure and aesthetics of this historic building,” said Ware. “Since the building will remain closed while Zurschmeide Contracting works to repair damage from the fire, now is the perfect time for the HCA to initiate these efforts.”

Some of these efforts include repairing the roof and gutters, painting the exterior of the school, complete renovation of the windows that were not damaged in the fire, updating the electrical system, and refinishing the hardwood floors. Another effort is to clean out the basement, which had once served as the school’s cafeteria, so it may be used for storage and as a utility kitchen.

Financial donations may be made to the HCA using our Membership and Donation Form, or donate online through our PayPal account.

Your support has always been important, but is even more critical now.  We thank all those who have supported the HCA throughout the years, and share their dedication to preserving Hillsboro’s historic Old Stone School with us.