'So far, so good' on Czech museum move

“So far so good,” Velma Koehler said as the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library continued its slow crawl toward its new site Wednesday.

Koehler, of Marion, said she staked out her spot near the west end of the 12th Avenue bridge about 8 a.m. Wednesday. Dick and Pat Semelroth of Hiawatha showed up about an hour later. All three brought lawn chairs, umbrellas for protection against the sun, and cold beverages.

By 10:30 a.m., the building had moved several dozen feet – not fast enough for motorists on 16th Avenue to notice, but easily apparent to those planning to be there for the duration of the big move.

“They've moved it a long ways since we've been here,” said Koehler.

“This is phenomonal,” said Pat Semelroth. “Just phenomonal. A good example of American ingenuity, that we can still do it. The can-do attitude.”

Koehler and the Semelroths said they were settled in for the long haul, looking forward to the point when crews pivot and jack the museum to fit onto its new, flood-proof foundation.

“It's going to be very interesting,” said Koehler.

It may be interesting, but it's not exactly fast.

After weeks and literally months talking about the move of the museum to higher ground, it's finally under way.  But the move that started Wednesday morning after a short rain delay is measured a few inches at a time.

The irony of a short rain delay wasn't lost on participants who turned out for a kickoff ceremony that was scheduled to start at 7:45 a.m.  After all, constant rain fouled up the original schedule of a museum move in late April.

But the crowd took cover and waited for a ceremony that started about 45 minutes late.  Finally, the weather cooperated enough for the official launching.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett noted the museum building isn't really old - just about 15 years.  But in that time, especially after the flood of 2008, it's become an iconic symbol of Cedar Rapids and especially post-flood rebuilding.

Museum director Gail Naughton invited the crowd to visualize a completed and expanded museum a little more than a year from now.

“Think about what this building will hold,” Naughton said, adding “it will be a place to gather, meet your friends, celebrate and learn to have fun-this is your museum, you are going to help us populate it.”

Following that, Naughton climbed atop a platform on a fork lift and smashed a ceremonial bottle of champagne against the side of the structure.  With that nautical theme, a launching of a ship complete, Patterson Structural Moving workers began the actual job.

If you watched closely, you could see the wheels turning ever so slowly.

By midday, the museum may move a hundred feet or so and then workers will take several hours to pivot the entire structure so it will line up with its eventual new home.  If you're keeping track, the maximum speed is one eighth of a mile an hour.

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