Friday, May 23, 2008

New Siding Going on the Tower







Beginning yesterday and continuing today the new siding is being installed on the tower. The new siding is made of mahogany and designed with a ship-lap detail so that the wood will fit together tightly even with swelling and shrinking. The siding was treated with a wood preservative, primed, and single-coat painted before going on the tower. The pictures show the siding going into place around one of the ox-eye windows, the ship-lap detail, and a side almost completed.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Weathervane Examined


This morning, New England weathervane scholar Myrna Kaye stopped by to examine the Old State House weathervane. According to Kaye, the weathervane appears to be from the building's first brick construction, about 1713. She even believes that the vane may have been made by Shem Drowne, who also created the grasshopper vane atop Faneuil Hall, but this point is still being investigated. In the above picture, Kaye discusses the vane with Bostonian Society Executive Director Brian LeMay; Don Tellalian, AIA, of Tellalian Associates Architects & Planners; and Old State House Museum Director Rainey Tisdale.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Siding and Corner Posts Arrive




This morning the crew from M&A Architectural Preservation brought the new corner posts and siding to the Old State House. The crew will start to place the siding tomorrow and test-fit the corner posts.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Fusing the Seams in the Dome


Late last week the team from Oak Roofing worked on sealing the seams in the dome. Our water test showed that the dome was leaking at the seams. As a possible solution for the leaks, the dome's seams were opened and fused together.


The dome is made of lead. Originally the seams were folded over and pounded to a tight seal. This picture shows one of the seams fused together to create a solid barrier against water.