The Turret Summer 2004 & Turret Support Through the Years

"Below this tile work was a highly ornamental stone base, which narrowed down to an area where, presumably, a pedestal was once present. This pedestal was now replaced by the rusted steel pipe. The windows of the turret, glass probably gone 40 years ago, had their frames tilted and grey, unprotected for decades from the seasonal extremes of southeastern Michigan. In the center turret window, like a small child just tall enough to peek out over the sill, grew a bright green fern."

Turret of the structure at the southwest corner of Alfred St. and John R, Detroit MI, July 2004, Copyright © John Kossik

Original stone support post for turret, circa 1879 (Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library)

Turret support 1977. Note turret supported from remaining roof beam of partially demolished storefront. Support is accomplished via a small block of 6x6 to bridge the gap between the beam and the remaining bottom of the turret. This beam & block combination must have been the sole support for the turret from the time the storefront was built in the late 1930's to early 1940's by the Essa's. Copyright © Bruce Harkness

Turret support 1984. Basically the same as configuration shown in 1977 though the 6x6 block may be deforming a bit and the turret is starting to pull away from the structure. Copyright © Scott Weir

Turret support 1994. Steel post placed under remaining storefront roof beam to take load off notch in wall and remaining storefrint wall and transfer it to the ground. Copyright © Bruce Harkness

Turret support 2005. Remaining storefront wall gone leaving one end of roof beam supporting turret itself unsupported. Steel post added in late 1980's still transfering load to ground but movementment of all elements visibly present. Wood block and roof beam visibly skewed. Copyright © John Kossik.

Turret support 2009. Storefront roof beam & 6x6 block removed. Turret supported with new or modified (note weld point on post may be attachment to original post installed in 1980's) post only. Copyright © John Kossik.

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