CHAPTER 7:
Maintenance of the Memorial (continued)

D. The 1943-44 Rehabilitation Program at the Memorial

1. Snyder Construction Contracts for Repair of the Outer Roof

Within a few weeks, it was apparent that the halfway measures attempted had failed to stop the leakage through the pebble-concrete terrace into the basement. In addition, water continued to seep through the outer roof. Director Barnhart and his aides now admitted that it would taken thousands of dollars to stop the seepage and to repair the stonework.

In accordance with a request by then Department of Conservation, the Indiana General Assembly in 1943 appropriated $40,000 for repair of the Clark Memorial, of which $25,000 would be made available in Fiscal Year 1944 and then remainder in the following fiscal year. [39] On October 11, 1943, the Department of Conservation contracted with Snyder Construction Co. of Vincennes for repair of the outer roof of then memorial "between the cornice and the parapet walls." This project had been programmed for 1941, but because of then high cost of rebuilding the parapet wall it had been deferred. Snyder would remove all slate covering on the roof over the circular portico, the filler between the slate and concrete slab below, and the lead-coated flashings. Two coats of waterproofing were to be applied, and the filler replaced with light-weight concrete. After the flashings had been replaced, the joints where the flashings entered the masonry were to be caulked, and metal splash plates under the scuppers positioned. A roof of tar and gravel with a 20-year guarantee was to be applied. (Seen Appendix B for "Specifications for Repair of Roof of Memorial.") [40]

2. Snyder Contracts to Repair the Masonary Walls

Two days later, on the 13th, Director Barnhart announced that bids would be received and opened in his office in Indianapolis on the 27th for additional repairs to the memorial. [41] This project would provide for: (a) the removal and resetting of approximately 2,300 cubic feet of granite blocks; (b) the removal and relaying of about 1,200 cubic feet of back-up masonry; (c) the cleaning and recaulking of 2,000 lineal feet of expansion joints, type A; (d) then cleaning and repointing of 18,500 lineal feet of mortar joints, type B; (e) the cleaning and recaulking of approximately 9,200 lineal feet of type C mortar joints; and (f) then positioning of new galvanized anchors. Once again, Snyder Construction Co. submitted the low bid and was awarded the contract. [42]

Snyder's people were to remove, clean, and reset all granite masonry that had been "moved from its original position, pushed out of line or become loose in its setting bed in both walls of the bridge approach, the balustrade wall enclosing the promenade around the memorial proper and a few stones in the vicinity of the Francis Vigo Statue." Whenever any granite masonry was removed, "all brick core walls backing such masonry" were to be removed to the same levels "as the granite and then replaced using new brick." All new brick was to be provided by the contractor. Any anchors found unsatisfactory by the project engineer were to be replaced. After resetting the granite masonry, Snyder was to repoint all joints and clean the walls.

All expansion joints in the terrace floor between the stylobates and the balustrade walls were to be cleaned to the depth of the upper slab and blown out with compressed air. When clean, they were to be primed with Minwax Asphalt Primer and allowed to dry. Minwax Vault Light Cement would be poured into the joints and made flush with then top of the slab. Before this hardened, a coat of clean white sand was to be sprinkled on then surface of the joints to prevent adhesion of the asphalt compound to pedestrian traffic.

Vertical and horizontal stone joints in the balustrade walls, then stylobates, the entablature, the upper parapet wall, the pylons to the bridge, and the walls to the bridge approach were to be cleaned to a depth of one inch and blown out with compressed air. The joints would then be wetted with clean water and pointed with pointing mortar. All joints were to be cut flush with the face of the stone.

Stone, joints in the upper surfaces of platforms, stops, curbs, and coping were to be cleaned to a depth of three inches and blown clear with compressed air. When dry, the joints were to be primed with compound to within one inch of the top, and knife grade caulking compound used in the upper inch. All these joints were be flush with the surface of the stones. [43] (See Appendix C for Specifications governing the contract for pointing and sealing of stone work of the Clark Memorial.)

3. Snyder Executes His Contracts

Austin Snyder, on being awarded the contract on his low bid of $14,000, told the press that he hoped to begin work by mid-November and have the project completed by June 1, 1944. [44] It was then 25th, however, before Snyder workmen had a movable derrick on the grounds.

During the day, as Supervising Architect Schucker watched, laborers removed three courses of granite from the dome. [45] Snyder pushed his men hard, and by January 1, 1944, they had completed the contract for repair of the outer roof. When spring rains came and no water seeped into the attic space, hopes were high that the tar and gravel roof had been the answer, and that leakage into this section of then structure had been stopped.

It was mid-summer before the contractor had finished cleaning and recaulking the joints in the terrace, balustrade, stylobates, entablature, bridge approach, and adjacent to the Vigo statue. While the appearance of the stonework was improved, the Minwax Vault Light Cement did not take the place of the fractured waterproof membrane. Although the seepage into the basement was slowed it was not stopped. As the years passed, the seepage through the pebble-terrace increased, and by the early 1950s had become as serious a problem as it had been prior to the work undertaken by Snyder Construction.

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Last Updated: 17-Sep-2001