Historic Lorain Branch of the Cleveland Public Library partners with global company known to beautify historical monuments

A unique partnership is helping restore one of Cleveland Public Library’s crown jewels. On Tuesday, November 12, Kärcher, the world’s leading provider of cleaning technology, will launch a preservation project at the historic Lorain Branch, an Andrew Carnegie library. “The Lorain Branch is a remarkable Carnegie building. It is rich in history and it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to see its façade renewed,” said Felton Thomas, Jr., Director and CEO of the Cleveland Public Library.

The Lorain Branch opened in 1912 in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. It’s one of 6 libraries in the Cleveland Public Library system built with money from Carnegie, a businessman and philanthropist who donated funds to create more than 2,000 libraries across the country. “As cleaning specialists, Kärcher has been actively involved in supporting the preservation of historical monuments and buildings, free of charge, for over 30 years with our Cultural Sponsoring program,” says Kris Cannon-Schmitt, VP Marketing Professional. Some of Kärcher’s world-renowned cleaning projects include Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Now, Kärcher will use the same gentle steam cleaning and environmentally safe technique to revitalize the brick and stone trimmings on the Lorain Library.

“This is a major step for us in maintaining our historic Lorain Branch. Karcher’s work around the globe is impressive and we look forward to them restoring the Library to its full glory,” said Kathleen Sonnhalter, Capital Projects Manager for the Cleveland Public Library.

The cleaning process will take place during the week of November 11 at the Lorain Library located at 8216 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland.

Schedule of Events on Tuesday, November 12

7:00 a.m. – Professional cleaning process begins

8:30 a.m. – Media interviews available with Cleveland Public Library executives, city and community leaders and Kärcher cleaning expert Nick Heyden

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Kärcher conducts training demonstration session for city and community leaders, contractors and preservation groups

About Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG

As part of its cultural sponsorship program, the cleaning equipment manufacturer Kärcher has cleaned more than 140 monuments worldwide since 1980. These include the colonnades of St. Peter’s Square in Rome, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, the over 3,300-year-old Colossi of Memnon in Luxor, Upper Egypt and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, as well as Aachen Cathedral and the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche in Berlin. The cleaning is always performed in close cooperation with monument conservators, restorers and art historians.

Kärcher Region North America is one of the largest subsidiaries of the Kärcher Group with over 1,000 employees.   In the United States, Kärcher produces and distributes products and services under the brands Kärcher, Windsor Kärcher Group, Landa, Hotsy, Water Maze, Spraymart, and Cuda Kärcher Group. The company’s solutions serve customers’ cleaning needs in an economical and environmentally-friendly manner.