Mark,

This is very helpful information, much appreciated!

Thank you,

Benjamin

On Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 6:06 PM, Branstner, Mark C <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> Benjamin,
>
> I encountered in situ pier blocks/pylons essentially identical to what you
> illustrate on one or more CCC camps in northern Michigan (ca. 1933-42).
> Most commonly these were piers under long wooden barrack-type structures
> that were essentially identical to what you would see in any contemporary
> military installation, although similar piers were associated with many
> structure types, including water towers and fuel tanks. Going back over my
> notes, it appears that at least some of them had pockets cast into the
> tops to accept an upright timber post -- maybe something like a 4 x 4 inch
> post. I cannot swear whether those pylons were cast on site with the wood,
> or whether they were prefabricated and brought on site. Similar pylons are
> routinely associated with fire-tower corners, but those were certainly
> cast in place and deep enough to anchor the tower; the tower structure was
> of heavy galvanized angle iron and was certainly cast into the pylons.
>
> Sorry, no page numbers in my old computer file, but here is a reference
> that you may use as you see fit.
>
> Branstner, Mark C.
> 1986      Cultural Resources Inventory of Fire Lookout Towers and C.C.C.
> Camps on the Huron-Manistee National Forests. Technical report prepared
> for the Huron-Manistee National Forests, Cadillac, Michigan. Great Lakes
> Research, Williamston, Michigan.
>
>
> Mark
> ___________________________________
>
> Mark C. Branstner, RPA
> Historic Archaeologist
>
> Illinois State Archaeological Survey
> Prairie Research Institute
> University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
> 209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
> 23 East Stadium Drive
> Champaign, IL 61820
>
> Phone: 217.244.0892
> Fax: 217.244.7458
> Cell: 517.927.4556
> [log in to unmask]
>
> "I hope that was an empty bottle, George! You can't afford to waste good
> liquor. Not on your salary, not on an associate professor's salary!²
> Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011) as 'Martha' in 'Who's Afraid of Virginia
> Woolf'
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 8/30/11 6:02 PM, "Benjamin Vargas" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> >Hello All,
> >
> >I am wondering about the possible age and origin of concrete pier blocks
> >such as the ones in the photo I have linked:
> >
> >http://s1116.photobucket.com/albums/k566/bkeavargas/
> >
> >I know that these are still made today, but was wondering if anybody
> >might have an idea of when these first came into production. We have some
> >of these at a site that likely dates to the 1930's to late 1940's. We are
> >wondering if these are a late addition to some structural remains at the
> >site (the look pretty new to me).
> >
> >Thank you
>