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Photos: Measuring out the Alexander Memorial, as new panels get installed

Photos: Measuring out the Alexander Memorial, as new panels get installed

Work on the restoration of the Alexander Memorial at the southeast corner of the courthouse square continues.

On Thursday morning (April 21), the first of the newly milled limestone panels were put into place by the crew from Wells Masonry.

It is tedious work. The tolerances are small, and the stone is heavy.

The rounded corner panels weigh around 1,400 pounds. The square center panels weigh about 3,500 pounds.

On Thursday, two of the rounded corner panels were installed. Two more remain. Between the corner panels, four square panels will be installed. Based on the pace of Thursday’s work, the installation of the remaining new panels will take at least another week.

The 35-foot-tall Alexander Memorial was built in 1928 to honor Monroe County’s veterans of all wars.

The animation below illustrates the fine control of heavy machinery that is required to install the heavy panels.

This is a gtwo-frame animation .The first frame is the thumb down sign. The Wells Masonry worker is signalling to the lift operator to lower the panel a smidgen. The second frame is the fist, which means hold, or stop. The difference in height of the limestone panel in each frame is barely discernible. That's how tight the tolerance is.
The first frame is the thumb down sign. The Wells Masonry worker is signalling to the lift operator to lower the panel a smidgen. The second frame is the fist, which means hold, or stop. Check the difference in height of the limestone panel in each frame. That’s how tight the tolerance is.

Photos: Alexander Memorial restoration (April 21, 2022)

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