BELVIDERE, Ill. (AP) — Monstrous, 85-year-old industrial trusses will get new life in hangars at Poplar Grove Airport.
Airport owner Steve Thomas has bought the arcing, bowstring trusses from the former Manley Motors building in Belvidere. They date to the early 1930s.
He intends to build four, 60-foot hangars reminiscent of a bygone day in aviation. Half of the dozen trusses are 60 feet long, half are 75 feet.
The city bought the Manley property in 2014 for $375,000. It is razing the building to create green space and parking.
Recyclean Inc. of Kenosha, Wisconsin, is clearing the property. It found buyers for the bricks and lumber. Thomas bought the trusses for $2,000 each.
He will use Manley family blueprints dated Feb. 19, 1931, as a guide in reusing the trusses.
