Storm Damage repairs lead to “Gem of a Find” at Rockland Breakwater Light
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
Historic restoration is always exciting, and once in a
while, a truly fascinating discovery is found during the process that
provides new insight into a structure’s original construction and
history.
Such is the case with the 1902 boathouse at Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse, where during a repair project being facilitated
by Maine Coast
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
A view of the Rockland Breakwater
boathouse on the north side of the lighthouse
Construction in summer 2009, work crews uncovered a structural aspect that
was not recorded on original drawings.
The boathouse, which suffered storm damage on both its east side and
northeast corner from the April 2007 Patriots Day Gale, was thought all
along to be a sturdily built timber frame structure based on its
construction plans – and surviving the onslaught of this
once-in-a-quarter-century storm only strengthen such thinking.
Despite powerful seas buffeting and scouring the east wall of the wooden
boathouse during the height of the gale, and waves periodically sweeping
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
A view of the sea's fury at Rockland
Breakwater during the April 2007
Patriots Day Gale
completely
over top of it, the little building stood strong in the face of the
storm’s fury and remained intact in its wake.
After enduring the destructive gale, one might say the
boathouse at Rockland Breakwater Light was built – well, like a ship.
This notion took on new meaning when Maine
Coast Construction
accessed the previously boarded-up boathouse to repair the damage, and in
doing so, discovered a neat structural component in the form of ship’s knees
situated along the northeast corner of the building.
One source of the
boathouse’s overall construction strength was now revealed, which cast a
bright light on one of the reasons why the building
survived the
sea’s terrible assault during the Patriots Day Gale despite the damage
inflicted.
When asked to describe the boathouse, Mark DeMichele,
Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer for the firm summed it up by
noting, “In a word, impregnable!”
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Storm damage to the east wall of the
boathouse
in the wake of the Patriots Day
Gale
Mr. DeMichele went
on to say, “In looking at the original construction scope, obvious thought
went into the structural components of the boathouse. One thing I found
interesting is the fact that certain details, such as the large horizontal
and vertical pins holding the components together, and the large ‘knee’
braces along the outer northeast corner are absent from the original plan
details.”
“Though some
written references are noted, other specific size and spacing details are
not on the plan. This would suggest that a certain
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
A view of the rugged ship's knee braces
along the northeast corner
of the boathouse
reliance and confidence on the builder and his knowledge
existed, not uncommon around the turn of the century, and in some
instances, even today.”
“The structure was clearly designed to withstand great
abuse from wind and water, and aside from the decay, which has
compromised some of the wood, the structure remains in tact. This is a
great testimony considering the range of weather events that have
pounded the boathouse since 1902!”
“Hats-off to builder William H. Glover whose personal
reputation was surely tied to the whole
lighthouse
project. Historically, successful association with their projects is
something that all reputable builders seek.”
Though the boathouse’s overall construction remained sturdy following the
storm, the building did suffer serious structural damage, which required
repair work as soon as possible, not only for aesthetics, but also to
prevent further damage from subsequent storms.
After consultation with the Maine Historic Preservation Commission on how
best to repair the boathouse damage in accordance with the U.S. Secretary of
the Interior’s Standards for Preservation, Maine Coast Construction
set out in June 2009 to rehabilitate the building’s east wall and northeast
corner.
Mark DeMichele explained the process, which concluded a
month later in July, saying, “We repaired and replaced various
structural members that had been damaged by water intrusion and years of
saturation. If conditions allow wetness, an environment that fosters the
growth of decay is created. Over time decay, which is fungus, grows and
migrates into adjoining members.”
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
(L to R) Rick Hayden, Jerome Bucklin
and Duane Overlock of Maine Coast
Construction work on repairing the
Rockland Breakwater boathouse
DeMichele went on to note, “Thus we found not only much of the outer,
exposed, wall of the boathouse decayed but also portions of the inner
vertical wall, the ledger supporting the deck joists, as well.”
The total cost of
the 2009 boathouse repairs at Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse was $17,200,
which was partially funded by an $8,500 historic preservation grant from the
Maine Historic Preservation Commission’s “New Century Community Program”.
In addition to the
grant obtained by the American Lighthouse Foundation on behalf of their
local chapter – Friends of Rockland Breakwater
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Mark DeMichele, Vice-President and Chief
Operating Officer of Maine Coast Construction in Camden, ME
Lighthouse (FRBL) who care for the historic beacon’s
preservation and open the lighthouse to the public each weekend during
the summer season, FRBL also invested another $8,700 of their own funds
into the rehabilitation project.
The long range plans of the Friends of Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse is to not only restore the boathouse, but also
make the structure accessible to the general public and interpret its
important role to the lighthouse and its keepers.
For now, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Friends
of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse and the professional rehabilitation
work of
Maine Coast
Construction, the boathouse is now a shining example of first-class
preservation in action.
“A project like this requires collaboration with many people such as the
Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, American Lighthouse Foundation
and the Maine Historic Preservation Commission – and it generates a healthy
respect for the preservation movement itself,” said Mark DeMichele of Maine
Coast Construction.
“During my 23 years with Maine Coast Construction, I have found that many of
our crew, like those working on the boathouse at Rockland Breakwater, have
embraced the idea of protecting and preserving symbols of our heritage.”
DeMichele concludes, “Even if one never cared for history as an academic
subject in school, what better way is there to make a connection from our
present to our past, than to dig into an old structure, which tells the
story from a different perspective than the history books? We are builders
and renovators. This is what we love to do.”
“However, our work becomes even more of a privilege when the significance of
historic preservation becomes part of the equation.”
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Jerome Bucklin of MCC works
on repairing the northeast
corner of the boathouse
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
A close-up view of a critical
timber replaced on the southeast side of
the boathouse
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Rick Hayden of MCC works on replacing a
critical timber on the southeast corner of
the boathouse
Duane Overlock of MCC preps a replacement
board for the Rockland Breakwater boathouse
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Duane Overlock of MCC works on the
northeast corner of
the boathouse
A close-up view of the
deteriorated ledger timber supporting the deck joists
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
A close-up view of the new section of
ledger timber that replaced the deteriorated section along the south
side of the boathouse interior
A view of the repaired east wall and
ship's
knee braces from
inside the Rockland Breakwater boathouse
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
A view of the Rockland Breakwater
boathouse with the damage caused by the April 2007 Patriots Day Gale
A view of the Rockland Breakwater
boathouse following the 2009 rehabilitation work by Maine Coast
Construction
