Parts of Historic Wilmington City Hall undergoing cleaning and repairs

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – Work is underway to make repairs to architectural accents to historic City Hall/Thalian Hall. The city says this week, scaffolding is being erected and two types of accent pieces distinctive to the time the building was constructed in the 1850s will be removed for repair.

Both the modillions, a type of supporting bracket, and the soffits, which are part of the underside of the roof structure, will be removed and crews will evaluate the amount of repairs needed.

After the initial assessment and any needed repairs to the supporting roof structure are made, the soffits will be repainted and each one of the 124 modillions will be cleaned, repaired and repainted by hand and then reattached to the building with longer and larger bolts for safety purposes.

No word yet on the total cost of the project or how long it will take to complete.

Many of the modillions date back to construction of the building, more than 160 years go, and are made of cast iron that weigh about 60 pounds each.

Any modillions that need to be replaced will be fabricated by Stewart Ironworks in Covington Kentucky, manufacturer of the original modillions.

The foundry still has the original templates from the 1850s. City Hall/Thalian Hall is one of the oldest remaining public buildings in Wilmington. It is listed on the National Register for Historic Places and all repairs/improvements must meet strict guidelines to protect the historical integrity of the building.