Lights Out--For Now (Cedar Rapids Gazette, November 9, 2010)

November 9, 2010

By Cindy Hadish

Lights out - for now

Czech-Slovak museum chandelier taken down for safekeeping

Cedar Rapids--An iconic museum piece that cheered staff who returned to their flood-devastated building is the last item to be removed from the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

Preparations are under way to move and elevate the museum this winter.

"The board didn't want this to ride with the building as it's being moved, said electrician Dave Dyrland as he worked to dismantle the museum's signature chandelier Monday in the Grand Hall of the building at 30 16th Avenue SW.

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Spokeswoman Diana Baculis said museum staff contemplated bringing back that crew before finding Dyrland, 60, a journeyman electrician at Paulson Electric. Dyrland was familiar with the chandelier, having rewired the fixture in 2007.

With more than 1,000 crystals and 48 bulbs, the 8-foot-tall chandelier weighs more than 400 pounds.

Dyrland and apprentice Jeff Cooling used a lift to reach the chandelier, which was untouched by 8-foot-high Cedar River floodwaters that ripped through the building.

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Dyrland said working on the chandelier is a privilege in light of his Czech Village connections.

He played football for Wilson School as a youth, when the team was known locally as the "Kolache Eaters."

"We're not going to take any shortcuts," Dyrland said. "We're making sure it comes down safely and intact."