Onsite Mockups Lead to Superior Results at Castle Clinton
In restoring and preserving stone, there are always variables to consider—not just the type of stone, but what contaminants have discolored it and compromised its strength over time. Onsite mockups allow us to work with our customers to determine the right combination of products for their project.
Castle Clinton - Before CSP preservation
Recently, John G. Waite Architects brought us in to assist with the preservation of Castle Clinton, a property with a fascinating history as the first US immigration station. Construction of Castle Clinton was completed in 1855—decades before the more famous immigration station, Ellis Island, which opened in 1892. Located on the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton was the arrival location of more than 8 million immigrants by the time it closed in 1890. (Its original purpose was as one of more than a dozen forts built to defend New York Harbor during the War of 1812, though it never had occasion to fire any of its 28 cannons.)
Castle Clinton’s beautiful sandstone was covered with years of New York City atmospheric dirt and grime and had suffered exposure to a significant amount of salt. The use of multiple cleaners demonstrated just how many different stain conditions were present on the 200-year-old fort. We tested our Light Duty Cleaner, Heavy Duty Cleaner, Bio-Cleaner, and Efflorescence Remover.
The architecture firm engaged Stone & Lime Masonry Restoration Service to restore the stone, a perfect choice given their experience restoring National Landmarks. Stone & Lime sent several of their employees to one of our Jahn Certification Training sessions in New York, where they learned to work with Jahn M70 Sandstone Mortar—selected for this project because it is perfectly compatible with the stone substrate of Castle Clinton.
To make the patches and repairs less obvious, Lime & Stone used several different colors and blended them in the field to match the varying colors of the existing stone. This process takes a lot of time and practice and requires a system of recording mix ratios to replicate these exact stone colors consistently.
Castle Clinton - After CSP preservation
The results were impressive. The Jahn M70 patches they installed were hardly noticeable. The mortar joints were clean-cut and the contrasting color that was used really emphasizes the beauty of the historic brown sandstone.
With the project complete, daily commuters from New Jersey get to enjoy the view of the Castle as they take the ferry across the Hudson River. And though Ellis Island may be more famous, Castle Clinton continues to attract many, many visitors. I recently played tourist during a bike ride with a group of friends. When I realized we were nearby, I suggested that we visit the fort. Restoration was complete and the result was amazing. Being involved in restoration projects of historical importance is my favorite part of my work with Cathedral Stone Products, so it was fun to be able to show this project off to my friends.
