Pishny Restoration Before and After Historic Restoration Photos

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Des Moines, Iowa Restoration Project

HISTORY OF THE MONUMENT

The State of Iowa erected this monument, funded partially by refunded war taxes, to commemorate Iowans who fought during the Civil War. The monument was approved in 1888, the cornerstone was laid in 1894, and the structure was completed two years later. Because a controversy developed over the location and artistic details of the monument, nearly 50 years passed before its dedication in 1945.

Iowa artist Harriet A. Ketcham's design for the memorial was chosen over 47 others, although she died before the monument was completed.  Sculptor Carl Rohl-Smith, a native of Denmark, was retained to complete the monument.

Both real and symbolic figures are portrayed. "Victory" is the most prominent figure, topping the 135-foot structure. Four equestrians -- all Iowa Civil War generals -- are depicted: Marcellus M. Crocker, who joined Grant at the siege of Vicksburg; Grenville M. Dodge, who built railroads to support Grant's army and accompanied Sherman on the "March to the Sea;" Samuel R. Curtis, commander of the Union Army at Pea Ridge; and John M. Corse, who was promoted to brigadier general in 1863, and assigned to the command of the Fourth Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps.

The four soldiers depicted on the upper base represent Iowans who served in different branches of the military during the Civil War: Infantryman Shelby Norman, who, at the age of 18, was the first Iowan killed in battle; Ensign William H.C. Michael, a school teacher turned sailor; Artilleryman Captain Henry H. Griffiths, whose battery never lost a gun throughout the war; and Calvaryman Lt. James Horton, killed while leading a saber charge at the battle of Lovejoy Station.

Nearly 80,000 Civil War military men were from Iowa, the largest number of soldiers per capita of any state participating during the war. Noted Iowa generals and battle scenes are pictured along the base. On the north side, a statue portrays Iowa as a mother offering nourishment to her children. To the south, "History" gazes into the future, and "Iowa" is shown as a youngster.  The nude woman sculpture on the north side and has been controversial - it is said to be an allegorial figure of Iowa representing our state as a beautiful, youthful mother offering nourishment to her children.

PROJECT CHALLENGES

Clean the base and stairs with a non-damaging restoration cleaner.

Remove mortar samples from the base and conduct a mortar analysis to determine the make-up and content of the original mortar utilized in the construction of the monument.

Remove existing mortar from all joints on the monument and repointing with historically accurate mortar.

Remove all caulking from the joints on the stairs up to the monument as well as the joints at the top of the monument base and re-caulking with materials that will stop the infiltration of water into the monument.

Remove mis-matched granite patches installed during previous monument restorations and replace them with new custom matched granite patches.

Pinning loose stones utilizing stainless steel rods to prevent them from falling off the monument.

Replacing five missing granite "capitals" with new custome carved pieces.

Excavating around the entire perimeter of the base and re-pointing the brick foundation.

 

The Des Moines Capital Building and surrounding gardens and monuments are a must see with architecture much like what you would see in Europe and it's a day trip from Kansas City.

Masoleum Restoration Project, Topeka, Kansas

Corinth Before

Corinth Restoration Complete

Topeka Capital Journal Newspaper Article

A multi-month project to restore three of the 10 historic in-ground mausoleums at Topeka Cemetery is nearing completion. 

Corey Thomas, business development manager for Pishny Restoration Services in Lenexa, said the restoration of the century-old stone mausoleums began last spring and will be completed within the next few weeks.  "Our goal is to make them last an additional 100 years," Thomas said.

Lowell Manis, superintendent of the cemetery, said the three mausoleums — all built in the late 1880s and listed on the Kansas and national registers of historic places — were "in a horrible state and falling apart."

The culprit was the original drainage system for the mausoleums had become clogged over time.

"With any historic masonry, moisture is the big enemy," Thomas said, describing how the freezing, thawing and pooling of moisture can cause stone structures to deteriorate.

The restoration project began with Pishny employees researching different aspects of the mausoleums, such as the type of stone and mortar used so they could be replicated.

Thomas said two of the mausoleums are constructed of bottom ledge cottonwood limestone; the third is made of marble. Manis said the stone most likely was quarried in the Cottonwood Falls-Flint Hills area.

After the research was done, Pishny workers began dismantling the mausoleums, which were built as the final resting places for the Moeser, Redden and Price families.

Thomas said they began chiseling back the deteriorating stone to reveal a solid layer, which would serve as the foundation for the rebuilding of the mausoleum.

"It's surgery to some degree," he said. "We don't look at anything as being replaceable, but (we look at it) as preservation."

Thomas said native stone is then cut to recreate the original profile of the mausoleum and pinned to the existing structure with stainless steel rods. A lime-based product, rather than an epoxy or glue, is used to bind the new and old stone.

The iron gates for the mausoleums were taken to Pishny's shop in Lenexa, where they were restored and reassembled using rivets.

Thomas said the biggest challenge was removing the six 250-pound doors of the mausoleums without damaging the stone. A locksmith with a blacksmithing background was hired to drill out the locks and treat them with a lubricant-like substance.

"The Moeser (mausoleum) hadn't been opened in at least 40 years," Manis said.

The restoration of the three mausoleums, estimated to be about $106,000, was paid for by a Kansas State Historical Society Heritage Trust Fund grant and matching funds raised from private donors, he said.

Once this project is completed, Manis said the cemetery would apply for an additional grant to restore the remaining seven mausoleums, which he estimated to cost about $500,000. The remaining structures were built between the late 1880s and 1912.

Manis said the cemetery had no perpetual care plan in place for several decades because family members typically took on the responsibility of caring for the grave sites of loved ones. In 1911, even though there were no legal requirements, the cemetery established a perpetual care program. However, the fees assessed then would not keep up with rising maintenance costs in future years.

Currently, Manis said, no fund exists for the maintenance of the mausoleums.

The cemetery board of directors has signed an agreement with ASA Marketing Group to develop a plan to raise funds for the cemetery's maintenance, he said. ASA was involved in fundraising for Hummer Sports Park and the baseball complex at Lake Shawnee.

Thomas said Pishny has two divisions: One specializes in historic building restoration; the other, cemetery and monument restoration. Recently, the company worked on the restoration of the Chalmette National Cemetery in New Orleans, which was submerged under 12 feet of water after Hurricane Katrina.

Thomas said in-ground mausoleums like the ones in Topeka Cemetery are rare.

"I've seen only one set of mausoleums like this in my life," he said. "For Topeka, this is a real treasure. I've not seen one with as much character and history."

Jan Biles can be reached at (785) 295-1292 or jan.biles@cjonline.com.

Helpful Links

Topeka Cemetery - Find A Grave

Topeka Cemetery - KS Historical Society

Topeka Capital Journal

Cemetery Monument Restoration - Chalmette National Cemetery, New Orleans, Louisiana

The restoration of Chalmette National Cemetery, in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Restoration of  82 marble monuments, restoration of the iron gates at the entrance, the cannon monuments, the flagpole and the GAR monument.

Sundown at Chalmette National Cemetery, New Orleans, LA

I recently traveled to New Orleans to check on the job and to work on the iron gates at the entrance to the cemetery. As I walked through this historic and picturesque cemetery, I felt a sense of pride and honor that the National Park Service has deemed the Chalmette Cemetery worthy of restoration and preservation.

Iron Gates After Restoration

Iron Gate Restoration

I have a passion for our heritage and the preservation of our important historical landmarks and parks. Bringing these places back into service for future generations to enjoy and obtain a better understanding of our history is a priviledge. Maybe this is my parent's gift to me as we traveled extensively when I was a little girl visiting all of our National Parks and Monuments, Yellowstone, Redwood Forest, Mount Rushmore, etc. My parents instilled a respect for our National Parks and the history of our Nation.

The Chalmette Cemetery serves as the burial place for Union Soldiers during the Civil War, and is rumored to be the burial place of British soldiers from the War of 1812. The Chalmette Battle Field adjoins the cemetery and as only a few British officers were taken back to England after the war, it is unknown where the fallen were buried. Some think it is around or in the Chalmette Cemetery in unmarked graves.

Walking through this picturesque cemetery, I am proud of the restoration work on the marble stones that gleam once again in the sunlight. The cemetery was covered with four feet of water after Hurricane Katrina suffering additional damage to the brick walls and monuments. Many of the majestic trees were lost at this time.

                                                                     GAR Monument
The monuments are now repaired and standing upright in one piece again. You would never know that the stones were ever broken or damaged. Our craftsman have received extensive training and are certified to perform these repairs and the results show their skill.

                                                      Unknown Soldier Grave Marker
To understand a restoration project, I feel it is important to know the history of the structure or project. In my research of the Chalmette Cemetery, I discovered the role of women during the Civil War. I was familiar with the nursing efforts of the wounded, the fierce determination to provide for their children and families once their husbands and older sons had gone to war, and the tradegy of loss. My GGG Grandmother's house was burned to the ground during the Civil War when she was left alone with only her elderly father. She begged the soldiers to allow her to keep her family Bible. It was all she had left after the fire.

                                            Hurricane Katrina Flooding, New Orleans, LA
What I didn't realize was that women also went off to war with their husbands and sons, or disguised themselves as men to enlist and serve their country. Some did it for honor and other's for the wages. A man's pay enticed many women to enlist disguised as men to earn money to send home to their families. These women were generally women of the frontier who had traveled West settling new farmsteads, they knew how to shoot a gun as well as their husbands and brothers and felt they were protecting their rights to their land and country.

                                                           Private Sara Lyons Wakeman

One of the more famous of these women is buried at the Chalmette Cemetery. Sara Rosetta Wakeman, from New York who enlisted in the Union Army as Private Lyons Wakeman, 153rd Regiment, New York State Volunteers on October 18th, 1862 after Abraham Lincoln had ordered the recruitment of an additional 300,000 soldiers to serve in the Union Army.

                                          Pvt Lyons Wakeman Grave Marker after Restoration
Recruitment of soldiers was quick and involved little more than a handshake making is very easy to enlist. Many young men enlisted, underage and anxious to serve their country. It is estimated that approximately 400 women also enlisted disguised as men, but the numbers are suspected to be much higher. The appeal of $20.00 per month was considered a high wage for the time and could be part of the motivation for men and women alike.

                                                 Vintage Postcard of Chalmette Cemetery

What makes Sara Wakeman's story so important, is the letters that were found in the attic of a farmhouse from Sara to her family. The letters provide the insight of a 19 year old woman serving her country as a soldier in the Union Army while in disguise.


Sara's gender was not discovered until the letters were found and her grave located at Chalmette Cemetery. A book is written, An Uncommon Soldier by Lauren Cook Burgess documenting Sara's life and her letters home to her family during the Civil War. Her letters are filled with pride, the eagerness to help provide for her family in New York, the uncertainty of her future and the desire to own her own farm someday.

"You musn't trouble you Self about me. I am contented. I want you to get along the best way you can until this war is over. I believe that God will spare my life to come home once more. Then I will help you to pay you debts. I will send you more or less money while I am a soldier.

Our regiment don't expect to stay here long. I don't know where we shall go to. Some think that we shall go into a Fort into heavy artillery. For my part I don't care where we go to. I don't fear the rebel bullets nor I don't fear the cannon. I have heard the roar of the cannon." - Sara Rosetta Wakeman, alias Private Lyons Wakeman


Sara died of dysentery in a hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana and is buried at Chalmette National Cemetery.