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Saturday, July 19, 2008

Photo contest: History update

For some, there’s no job too big. Heather & Little of Markham, Ont., doesn’t back down from most challenges and the Harvard University Memorial Hall steeple tower reconstruction was a unique challenge.
The Cambridge, Mass., school presented Heather & Little with drawings of the original building — dated 1872 — to help with the historical restoration.
Submitted with images for the Metal Roofing Magazine photo contest, Cameron Forbes of Heather & Little included a project list of what needed to be done.
“Items replicated included, cresting, weathervanes, pinnacles, cornice, and fenestrel dormers, capped with decorative trefoils, copper clad wood windows, and finials,” he says. “All were done in 20-ounce copper sheet, and 1/4-inch plate copper and brass.”PC-Hoisting 1.jpg
Working from the original drawings and assisted with computer generated drawings by the architects, the tower is replicated in every historical detail, with the exception of the new steel structural support system, and a plywood roof substrate.
After the Civil War ended in May 1865, a group of alumni met to discuss a suggestion first made by President Emeritus Walker, to build a suitable memorial to the sons of Harvard who died defending the Union during the Civil War. Two architects, Harvard alums as well, were awarded the project, and the cornerstone was laid on October 6, 1870. Memorial Hall was the largest academic building of its time; the structure built in the form of a cross, the longer part being Memorial Hall itself.PC-Harvard Cresting.jpg
The transept contains plaques listing the names, and places of death of those graduates who died in the Civil War. There are 136 names recorded, although the records show there should be 137.
In September of 1956, the tower, was consumed in a spectacular blaze, and destroyed; it remained in this condition for more than 40 years, until Forbes and Heather & Little showed up with the skill to complete the job — and the camera to take the award-winning photos.
Congratulations!

Submit your photos
Metal Roofing Magazine will publish a winning photo every issue and pay the winner $100. Runners-up will be
automatically eligible for future issues. Send a slide, hard copy, or a high-resolution digital image to: Metal Roofing Magazine, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI, 54990, or by e-mail to jim.austin@fwpubs.com. Photographs must be free of copyright restriction. Photographs will be assumed to show appropriate safety practices.

Source constructionmagnet.com

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