BELLEFONTE — The 200-year-old wall bordering the Centre County Library and Historical Museum’s community garden in Bellefonte was in such poor shape that the union workers were able to pull bricks right off.

Jamie Yurick, bricklayer and AFL-CIO union member, noticed the crumbling wall and decided that it would make for a positive community service project for the union.

A dedication ceremony was held Friday in Bellefonte to recognize everyone involved with the project.

Amassing a total of about 400 man-hours during the past four weekends, the crew was able to tear down the old wall and build a new brick and mortar wall in its place.

“It was a tremendous amount of material and time donated,” Seven Mountains Central Labor Council President Dan Long said.

Project sponsors included Beavertown Block, Bellefonte, Centre Concrete, Centre Hall Masonry and Seven Mountains Central Labor Council.

Long said he was worried the project wouldn’t get done in the four weeks, but he said the crew worked hard and long days on Fridays and Saturdays, and it was completed on time. He said the crew hustled to finish the job.

Local politicians including Centre County Commissioner Michael Pipe and state Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township, attended the event.

“I think it’s important to support these projects,” Conklin said.

Tracy Carey, director of public service for the library, also expressed her gratitude for the project, saying that the library wouldn’t have been able to come up with the necessary funds without the community service.

And Long said the wall is there to stay because of the quality of the structure.

“If the first wall was here for 200 years, this one will be here for 400,” he said.

Matt Morgan can be reached at 235-3928. Follow him on Twitter @MetroMattMorgan