HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975 - THE BATTLE GREEN - PROJECTMay ##:
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Department: Historic Diitrict Comr,tssio'n
Document
121 DEAN STREET
MANSFIELD, MASS.
EDccwooD 9.7150
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DISTINCTIVE MEMORIALS
Sept. 26, 1975
with a little'
By Joe Gavagban
What high- priced consultants and skilled
experts could not do, a man with a couple of
pieces of number 80 sandpaper did.
Warren Hamilton, head painter in the
traffic division of the Lexington Department
of Public Works, single - handedly cleaned the
black paint from the Revolutionary War
memorial on The Battle Green.
The monument's inscription tablet was
painted black three years ago, in the spring of
1975, as a Method of highlighting the
inscription.
The idea was to paint the entire surface
with the black pain —t and then remove it from
the surface, leaving the paint in the letters. It
was hoped that the black- paint would
highlight the lettering, thereby making the
inscription easier to read.
There was only one problem. Town officials
discovered that the paint would not come off.
Experts were consulted, including Norman
Weiss, a noted stone conservationist who is in
the process of restoring the stone in the
Statue of Liberty in New York City.
No one has a solution and for three years,
including the nation's Bicentennial
celebration, the inscription remained
illegible.
Alternative solutions were discussed, in-
eluding the printing of the inscription's
message on a placard to be placed beside the
monument. Gilding the lettering with gold
paint was also discussed.
Last week, Warren Empy, acting director
of the DPW, decided a little old- fashioned
elbow grease might do the trick. He sent
Hamilton, armed with some sandpaper, to
try sanding one corner of the tablet.
Sure enough, the paint came off easily.
Empey instructed Hamilton to sand the
entire surface and the monument's
inscription came clean.
Asked why sandpaper succeeded after
experts threw up their hands in defeat,
Empey suggested that perhaps the paint had
oxidized during the three years it coated the
stone.
He also noted that the paint did not
penetrate the stone as some experts had
feared.
"I was relieved," Empey recalled when
Hamilton informed him that the paint was.
removable.
Commenting on the entire affair, Town
Manager Robert M. Hutchinson Jr. admitted
that it was a classic case of common-sense. A
little sandpaper did the trick, he chuckled,
commending Empey and Hamilton for a job
well done.
LEXINGTON, MASSACMUSETF$, TUMMY, SESIONOWN 14, 11711
2 KELLEY BOULEVARD
NORTH ATTLEBORO. MAS ' F FJ
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TEL. MYRTCS 9-8981/ {
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, Battle Green memorial
to have a white
ample presented to you._
o the plaque, then four
f letters to be tested
. bottom row was
honed to
the 6 coats of sealer
xtent that it was very
k without removing some
decided that the best
ing the appearance of
when left exposed to the
similar to a lump of
tern just disappear. In
with high and low
Leting the work,
yours,
spots,.
i.e results obtained to
the final outcome.
rour decision.
Eatun of ��te.Cin tan, a fassuckn5eifs
To: Allan F. Kenny, Chairman
Board of Selectmen
FROM: John J. McSweeney, Director
Public Works /Engineering
MEMORANDUM
suaascr:
Revolutionary `'.onuttent
Reference is made to my memorandum of October 27, 1975 regarding
the status of the refurbishing of the Revolutionary Monument.
Please be advised that we have met with Mr. Fred Aimola, a
representative of Morse & Beggs Monument Company, North Attleboro,
MA regarding this matter.
It appears that we have a very limited course of action that .
we can take because of the existing conditions as explained in the
enclosed letter dated September 26, 1975 from Morse & Breggs
Monument Company.
The alternatives are as follows:
1) Repaint the Plaque with a white Lithochrome paint, which
will restore it to its original color. However, the let-
tering will not be legible. This would be at no cost to the
town.
2) Leave the Plaque as it is (painted black) with a slate
appearance and follow that with a suitable lettering.
This would be at a cost as it was originally proposed.
at $850.
3) Remove and replace the present Plaque with a granite mon-
ument at an estimated cost of approximately $1200.
cc: Walter C. O'Connell
Town Manager,
121 DEAN STREET
MANSFIELD, MASS.
EDGEWOOD 9 -7150
ftinrae. & T3E.gga flintmunt Tn.
DISTINCTIVE RIEMORIALS
John J. McSweeney, Dir.
Public Works & Eng.
Lexington, Ma
Dear Mr. McSweeney :
Peb. 5,..1976
2 KELLEY BOULEVARD
NORTH ATTLEBORO. MASS.
TEL. MYRTLE 9.8937
re; Replacing Battle Green Memorial
In reply to your request for an estimate as to the cost Of
a new memorial plaque produced from Black Slate, we submit the follow-
ing information for your consideration.'
Good Black Slate is very hard to procure. There is only 1
mine in the country, and it is almost Impossible to get a delivery
date for shipment.
The cost of the plaque in the duplicate size already
mounted on the green would be :
Approx. $5000.00 to 0000.86
The above figures have to be approximate, because we are
unable to get a firm price from the supplier who in turn has not a
firm price from the mine owner. However, the price would be com-
plete with all of the lettering exactly like the present plaque.
Our supplier does feel that there is a chance that we might
be able to have the plaque for the 19th of Apr, and we will keep in
touch with them on this matter.
Very truly yours,
Donald H. Beggs
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