Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2004
- Messages
- 37,973
I was just sitting in the easy chair relaxing when the phone rang. It was a good friend I have been thinking about calling lately to catch up. Haven't seen him since COVID. What he needed was not a catch-up chat (which we will do later), but technical advice. He is doing part of the metal work restoration of Fort Monroe, and they have to remove the existing badly corroded upright posts from one of the original homes and replace it with modern steel ... but everything has to look and be done as close to the original as possible. They will cut the handrails off the posts, the paint pros will sand away the lead paint and clean the metal, then when the posts are back in place, weld the rails back on the new uprights and prep for painting. The idea is to look as close as possible to the original installation (probably early-mid 1800's). He will use a carbon steel to replace the wrought iron uprights and weld it all up so it can be dropped in the new solid stone steps going up the front and back entrance. The uprights are about 1" square and are set into deep square pockets cut in the stone. He and some of the engineers were examining the uprights and couldn't figure out what the material holding them was. It was old, hard, and grey. I told him I knew what it was and what to do to remove and replace it, but to send a photo for me to see. He snapped it and sent it while I was on the phone (isn't technology great!) ... Yup, poured and hammered lead. I told him how to drill and remove it and recommended replacing it with poured anchoring epoxy. He said that have been told to do it as close to original, and even have some waivers covering lead.
So, I told him how to pour and hammer work the lead to make a watertight seal to the post and stone.
He is going to bring me over as a consultant for his part of the restoration work. I told him I would do consultant work if I got paid with all the scrap wrought posts dropped off in front of my new shop. He said he is supposed to remove the old posts and replace them with modern steel, so that just might happen. We'll see if there isn't someone higher up that already has his eye on a couple hundred pounds of very old wrought iron.
I asked him why he called me instead of one of the experts and historians they have available on the project, and he said he talked with several and none knew exactly what it was or how to replace it properly. He told them, "I know the guy to call", and dialed my number. The guys asked if I was an expert on colonial ironwork, and he replied, "He is the Beard of Knowledge."
Fun facts about Fort Monroe:
The first fort was wooden and built in 1609. It was called Fort Algernourne.
Fort Monroe replaced it, taking 15 years to build, being done in 1834. It cost almost $2,000,000 dollars. (a single cruise missile cost that today)
It covers 63 acres and has 1.3 miles of granite walls. The granite was quarried in the Virginia's mountains and carted by wagon to Hampton, VA.
The walls are 10 feet thick.
The oldest original building was built in 1819. It is called Quarters One.
It is the oldest stone fort in America.
It is the only American fort with a moat.
Robert E. Lee was commander during the build, and his first son Goerge Washington Custis Lee, was born in the fort. Lee built the moat.
Jefferson Davis was held prisoner at the fort for 1.5 years. His $100,000 bail was posted by Horace Greeley and Cornelious Vanderbilt. Davis was never tried.
President Lincoln stayed in the fort when he came down to watch the attack on Ocean View and in one day Norfolk surrendered. He stayed in Lee's old quarters - Quarters One.
12 separate concrete artillery batteries are mounted with 10 and 12-inch disappearing guns, 12-inch mortars, and 3 and 6-inch rapid fire barbette guns. Next to the fort are Battery Parrot, which held two 6-inch rapid fire guns, and Battery Irwin, which held four 3-inch guns. The Lincoln gun is one of the largest cannons ever built, It has a 15" bore and weighs 50,000 pounds, It fired a 300-pound shell that could hit a target 4 miles away. It sits on the parade grounds today.
The oldest tree on the side of the parade ground was there when John Smith arrived in 1607.
So, I told him how to pour and hammer work the lead to make a watertight seal to the post and stone.
He is going to bring me over as a consultant for his part of the restoration work. I told him I would do consultant work if I got paid with all the scrap wrought posts dropped off in front of my new shop. He said he is supposed to remove the old posts and replace them with modern steel, so that just might happen. We'll see if there isn't someone higher up that already has his eye on a couple hundred pounds of very old wrought iron.
I asked him why he called me instead of one of the experts and historians they have available on the project, and he said he talked with several and none knew exactly what it was or how to replace it properly. He told them, "I know the guy to call", and dialed my number. The guys asked if I was an expert on colonial ironwork, and he replied, "He is the Beard of Knowledge."
Fun facts about Fort Monroe:
The first fort was wooden and built in 1609. It was called Fort Algernourne.
Fort Monroe replaced it, taking 15 years to build, being done in 1834. It cost almost $2,000,000 dollars. (a single cruise missile cost that today)
It covers 63 acres and has 1.3 miles of granite walls. The granite was quarried in the Virginia's mountains and carted by wagon to Hampton, VA.
The walls are 10 feet thick.
The oldest original building was built in 1819. It is called Quarters One.
It is the oldest stone fort in America.
It is the only American fort with a moat.
Robert E. Lee was commander during the build, and his first son Goerge Washington Custis Lee, was born in the fort. Lee built the moat.
Jefferson Davis was held prisoner at the fort for 1.5 years. His $100,000 bail was posted by Horace Greeley and Cornelious Vanderbilt. Davis was never tried.
President Lincoln stayed in the fort when he came down to watch the attack on Ocean View and in one day Norfolk surrendered. He stayed in Lee's old quarters - Quarters One.
12 separate concrete artillery batteries are mounted with 10 and 12-inch disappearing guns, 12-inch mortars, and 3 and 6-inch rapid fire barbette guns. Next to the fort are Battery Parrot, which held two 6-inch rapid fire guns, and Battery Irwin, which held four 3-inch guns. The Lincoln gun is one of the largest cannons ever built, It has a 15" bore and weighs 50,000 pounds, It fired a 300-pound shell that could hit a target 4 miles away. It sits on the parade grounds today.
The oldest tree on the side of the parade ground was there when John Smith arrived in 1607.
Last edited:
