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 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
|
