The reconstruction of the museum in Liberec has begun, the original hydrant has been found

Liberec - The reconstruction of the North Bohemian Museum in Liberec has begun, costing 100 million crowns, and it will last until the end of next year. During the initial demolition work, workers discovered an original hydrant from 1898 with a brass valve and stamped with the city’s seal from that time. Jiří Křížek, the museum director, told ČTK today.

"I don't think there is another one like it anywhere else in Liberec," said Křížek. However, it no longer serves its original purpose. "I tried to turn it, but nothing flows out of it," he added. The hydrant has been preserved because it was hidden behind a screen. The director made another discovery, an unplastered part of the building. "My theory has been confirmed. When the museum opened in 1898, they were both pressed for time and had to open due to the emperor's anniversary. Secondly, they ran out of money brutally, so they didn't even have funds for painting," he added. That is also why there are so few interior photographs from the museum's opening.

However, the director does not expect too many more surprises. Work started in April, and they are still securing historical architectural elements with wooden boards. Demolition of inserted wooden structures, which have been in the museum for decades and where only estimates existed of what might be behind them, has also begun. "We are finding out how accurate our guesses were, and so far, there has been no skeleton to scare us," the director said.

According to him, removing all the carpets from the floors was demanding. "There were thousands of square meters of carpets that were firmly glued to the parquet and historical terrace," Křížek noted. The carpets will not return to the exhibitions, and the original floors will remain, but they will need restoration. "That will be done only towards the end," he added.

The architecture of the building from the end of the 19th century will remain the same after the reconstruction, but the exhibitions will change radically, and the building will be more accessible. "The technical equipment will also improve, air conditioning will be added, which was not here before, and the electrical wiring will be completely replaced, as it is still aluminum," Křížek said. A new sewer and water connection is also being built. The museum will also use the reconstruction to diagnose historical utility networks, heating ducts, and sewage systems. "There are a few branches here that are disconnected," the director noted. They need to know their condition and where they lead in order to be better prepared for potential local floods. The building is partly located on a filled-in pond, and a piped stream runs through it.

The museum is closed during the reconstruction but will participate next Friday in the museum night. Visitors will have the opportunity to climb the tower and make a First Republic lantern in front of the building. There will also be demonstrations of First Republic fashion.