You might contact the historian at Portland Cement.  They have a wealth of resources.

Chuck

----- Original Message -----
From: Sean Doyle <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 10:10
Subject: Re: Concrete Pier blocks?
To: [log in to unmask]


> I have also encountered identical pre-cast blocks as shown. In my 
> case they were pier supports for once again, barracks and other 
> military structures at an US Army Air Corps training camp 
> constructed in 1941. I will attempt to dig up a reference for you.
> 
> Sean Doyle
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY on behalf of Branstner, Mark C
> Sent: Tue 8/30/2011 6:06 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Concrete Pier blocks?
> 
> 
> 
> 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 
> structuresthat were essentially identical to what you would see in 
> any contemporary
> military installation, although similar piers were associated with 
> manystructure 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 
> referencethat 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 
> LakesResearch, 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" < 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