Facilities Projects- Sumer, Fall, 2007
Any free time we had went to improving some of the facilities at Hastings. We replaced the entry lane markers. These makers, placed every 100 feet in the 1930's, are reference points for hundreds of observations in the Hastings field notes. They give us a way to record where observations were made of plants, animals, etc. We replaced the markers with stout fencing posts and metal signs. There are now 34 markers, starting near the junction of the roads by the Lower Barn and continuing to near the entry gate.
Jaime de Valle and Mark Stromberg took on several other projects that have been lingering for years. These include installing a low wall on the exterior of the screen room at the Lower Barn to keep the contents dry. With the Red House and Stucco House contents now in storage with the arrival of post-doc Eric Walters, and the coming winter rains, we installed siding but kept the screened windows or light on the north side of the barn.
We replaced the sink and faucet in the public restroom, as many years of our hard water and hard use had taken their toll. Jaime refinished the drywall and painted the interior and Mark cleaned and painted the floor. Jaime repaired the Hastings airless sprayer and we painted the exterior. The first question just about every visitor to Hastings has for us is "Where is the restroom?", so nice to see it in almost-new condition again.
Mark mixed about 20 sacks of concrete and mortar and repaired the rock walls below the two foot bridges that serve the headquarters building area. These rock walls were damaged in the 1995 El Nino floods. Once the footings were secure, Jaime and Mark removed most of the older bridges and replaced the worn decking an installed new railing. A bit of new fencing will keep people from the steep edges at the upstream bridge. Our downstream bridge needed more foundation work, and deck replacement. They each have solar lights now to illuminate the way across the bridge.
Finally, we replaced the batteries in the solar light system in the Lower Barn. These batteries need to be replaced about every 8 years, and they were at least 15 years old. So, with new batteries, and some time for charging and adjusting the system, we should have lights again at the Lower Barn.
Any free time we had went to improving some of the facilities at Hastings. We replaced the entry lane markers. These makers, placed every 100 feet in the 1930's, are reference points for hundreds of observations in the Hastings field notes. They give us a way to record where observations were made of plants, animals, etc. We replaced the markers with stout fencing posts and metal signs. There are now 34 markers, starting near the junction of the roads by the Lower Barn and continuing to near the entry gate.
Jaime de Valle and Mark Stromberg took on several other projects that have been lingering for years. These include installing a low wall on the exterior of the screen room at the Lower Barn to keep the contents dry. With the Red House and Stucco House contents now in storage with the arrival of post-doc Eric Walters, and the coming winter rains, we installed siding but kept the screened windows or light on the north side of the barn.
We replaced the sink and faucet in the public restroom, as many years of our hard water and hard use had taken their toll. Jaime refinished the drywall and painted the interior and Mark cleaned and painted the floor. Jaime repaired the Hastings airless sprayer and we painted the exterior. The first question just about every visitor to Hastings has for us is "Where is the restroom?", so nice to see it in almost-new condition again.
Mark mixed about 20 sacks of concrete and mortar and repaired the rock walls below the two foot bridges that serve the headquarters building area. These rock walls were damaged in the 1995 El Nino floods. Once the footings were secure, Jaime and Mark removed most of the older bridges and replaced the worn decking an installed new railing. A bit of new fencing will keep people from the steep edges at the upstream bridge. Our downstream bridge needed more foundation work, and deck replacement. They each have solar lights now to illuminate the way across the bridge.Finally, we replaced the batteries in the solar light system in the Lower Barn. These batteries need to be replaced about every 8 years, and they were at least 15 years old. So, with new batteries, and some time for charging and adjusting the system, we should have lights again at the Lower Barn.
posted by Mark Stromberg at 4:58 PM
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