A Look From Inside: Iconic Bay Window Fronts a Building on the Grow

146 pieces of wood

26 pieces of glass

About three weeks of painstaking, exacting work

Such were the basic ingredients required to restore a beautiful bay window to pristine condition.

It’s been many decades since the western bay window — one of two that originally adorned the facade of the Bank Building in downtown Cottage Grove — looked out over Main Street, as historical photos can attest. Its restoration there now stands as one of the more visible achievements so far of what will amount to the complete renovation of this historic building.

For owners Len Blackstone and Deb Blackstone, the window stands as testament to their belief in the project, which will allow the Bank Building to again serve as a hub of both commercial activity and stylish living downtown. The eventual plan: several office spaces, a restaurant and Latina store downstairs and six apartments on the second floor. The prospect for its success: pretty darn promising.

Work began at the Bank Building in earnest this summer, and it will continue into 2020. On weekdays, a crew of at least nine and sometimes closer to 13 workers keeps progress humming along inside the building. These days, they’re busy framing off office space downstairs that’s expected to be occupied in January. Insulation and drywall are going in upstairs, and fire suppression equipment has been installed and is ready for inspection.