Memorial Tower at Dingle being given a complete reinforcement
By Iris Shea
It was obvious there is a lot of interest in the Memorial Tower at the Dingle when the room at the Armdale Yacht Club was filled to capacity to hear architect Syd Dumaresq give his talk entitled “My Grandfather’s Tower”. The occasion was the Annual General Meeting of the Northwest Arm Heritage Society on April 14th, 2011.
The Memorial Tower, 100 years old in 2012, was built as a result of Sir Sandford Fleming’s determination and perseverance. It opened on August 14, 1912 to commemorate the 150th anniversary (1758-1908) of representative government in Nova Scotia, the first elected legislative assembly in Canada. Mr. Dumaresq’s firm was chosen to oversee the restoration and conservation work that will give the tower the strength and resilience to last another 100 years. He is the fourth generation of Dumaresq family architects in Halifax, and even more fitting is the fact that his grandfather, Sydney Dumaresq, in partnership with architect Andrew Cobb, designed the tower.
Mr. Dumaresq gave praise to the work done by Councillor Linda Mosher in bringing about the tower’s National Heritage Designation in 2010. This opened up the opportunity for federal funds of $400,000, an amount matched by HRM, to pay for the necessary repairs to the tower. An analysis by a group of experts revealed extensive structural damage to the mortar as a result of exposure to the elements over the years. The 37 commemorative plaques from all over the British Empire and one from France are in poor condition and to restore them to their original state would be impossible. Much of the damage to these historic plaques, many of which are of sandstone, was caused by the lime mortar seeping from the walls and running down over them. They will be conserved with “tender cleaning”. During repairs in 2011, plywood frames cover each plaque, protecting them from the ongoing masonry work. On a positive note, the bronze lions in front of the tower, each one built in four sections, need only buffing up and waxing and are otherwise in good shape. These, too, are surrounded by plywood boxes for protection while the tower is being repaired.
Stone masons Bryce Morash and Sean Power of West Dover, with the firm of Coastal Renovators, have been working diligently, drilling 3000 holes (1500 inside and 1500 outside) into the damaged mortar. The holes will be filled with cellular foam followed by the insertion of stainless steel pins. The cellular foam “will allow movement of the tower”. There is a lot of moisture in the walls, and heat and ventilation has been provided to help in the drying process and to allow the work to continue during winter months.
The copper tiles on the roof are the original and remain in good condition. They will be systematically removed in order to make the repairs to the leaking roof and then returned to their original Spanish design. The roof deck needs major repairs, but the granite supports and arched granite blocks under the roof are in excellent condition. The tower was built mainly of ironstone from the Purcell’s Cove quarry, with granite cornerstones part way up the tower. It is believed the granite came from Terence Bay.
Heritage Canada has been involved in this project from the beginning, approving the work being done. They have agreed that protection from lightning, although not in keeping with its heritage designation, is a necessary addition to this historic monument. Consultation is ongoing with Lou Dursi, Coordinator –Buildings, Infrastructure & Asset Management, Facility Development with HRM, and Kellie McIvor, a local conservator with special interest in public art and memorials.
The public can look forward to enjoying their tower and climbing the stairs to the top once again in August 2012, but for now it is wrapped in white material, quite mysterious in appearance if you are looking at it from the head of the Northwest Arm.