IN REPLY REFER TO: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
H30
Division of Architecture
Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation
From: Architect Franzen, Harpers Ferry
Subject: Remedial Maintenance Work, Gettysburg
The treillage of the Rostrum in the Cemetery has been previously restored but masonry platform base requires extensive stabilization and repairs. From studies made at the time of the earlier work it was found that the masonry work required would amount to $10,000.00.
After reviewing the above work an inspection was made of the northwest wall of the National Cemetery. The attached sketch delineates the condition of this wall. There is roughly 850-875 feet of this wall of which approximately 225 feet needs dismantling and rebuilding. It is apparent that there has been a later repointing of the wall using a mortar mix employing cement. This has failed to adhere to the granite facing stones and can be readily picked from the joints by hand in many places. Water has found its way through the joints and has eroded the clay matrix of the interior cavity stone fill thus releasing the back support of the facing. At such points the facing stones have sunken and where the interior fill has fallen within the cavity it has swollen from frost action causing the wall to bulge
For that portion of the wall that requires rebuilding it will be necessary to carefully remove the granite coping stones. These are of varying lengths and are fastened end to end at each joint by two wrought iron cramps. The cramps are set in sulphur and virtually all
It is estimated that rebuilding 225 feet of the wall will cost about $11,250.00. To repoint the balance of the wall would cost $6,500.00. Removing the existing cramps and replacing them with new ones would cost $3,000.00. In discussing this with Superintendent Emery he was of the opinion that work on the wall might possibly be included with other cemetery road and landscaping work now being programmed for construction.
A. W. Franzen
Architect
cc.
Superintendent Emery
Mr. Askins
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