The restoration work on the KAJ Schmidt Memorial on Elliot’s Beach is expected to be completed in a month’s time. One of the city’s landmarks, the structure was built in the memory of a gallant Dane by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir George Frederick Stanley, the Governor of Madras from 1929 to 1934.
Official sources at the Chennai Corporation said the structure had been readied using fiber-wrapping technology, which prevented cracks from developing anywhere between the top and the base of the structure. The sources further pointed out that the use of fiber wrap would prevent the structure from collapsing during or after an earthquake.
At present, work was on to construct a compound wall around the heritage structure, strengthen the roof structure and the flooring work.
“The monument should be maintained after it is restored to its earlier glory. When the edifice was in a dilapidated state, anti-social elements were scribbling on its walls. The civic body should take steps to stop such vandalism,” said T. S. Siva Kumar, a resident of Besant Nagar.
On December 29, 1930, Schmidt and four other Danes went swimming at Elliott’s Beach.
As they were leaving the water, Schmidt and his colleague, Werner Nielsen, noticed three swimmers struggling to stay afloat and plunged into the water again.
They were followed by two of their colleagues.
All seven were soon in trouble till the only Dane on shore, A. Kragh, and some fishermen took out ropes and brought back all of them to the shore, except Schmidt who could not grab and hold the rope thrown to him.
The fishermen later found his body and brought it ashore.
