Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Up! (and better than ever)

Thanks to six straight hours of climbing, Jerry McClanahan and Zach Atchley successfully restored the Bluff Furnace Art of History display. They were assisted by volunteers Monika Groppe and "Seun" Oluwaseun Erinie, and by Nick Honerkamp, who also engaged in some selective chainsaw beautification to the site's landscape in order to improve sight lines from the Tennessee River.

Monika and Seun rig a panel to be hauled up the frame.

Zach (top) and Jerry (below) get high.
This time, instead of using cable ties to secure the panels to the frame, it was decided to use bungee cord that was looped through the panel grommets and then around the frame sections.

We assumed that this would securely attach the fabric while simultaneously allowing a desirable amount of give during high wind-shear episodes. Mark Making had quickly repaired and re-stained the tornado-damaged grommets and fabric, but we had to wait two weeks for delivery of the 600 ft of bungee cord before we could proceed; more than half was used during the installation, and the rest will be kept at the ready for any future repairs or replacements. This new attachment protocol is aesthetically superior to the cable ties, as it makes for a more seamless panel against the frame; see below. We also believe that it will be more resistant to ultraviolet damage than the plastic ties. Only time will tell.


Tuesday's effort was photodocumented by Chattanooga Times-New Free Press photographer Angela Lewis, shown here. One of her photos appears in  the March 30 metro section of the newspaper.

A very focused Angela Lewis, Chattanooga Times-News Free Press Photographer
Having survived a tornado, the Art of History installation should have a relatively stabile future. And happily coinciding with our second successful hanging is the publication of a lead article on Bluff Furnace in the Society for Industrial Archaeology Newsletter, Volume 40, No 1, Winter 2011. Authored by Nick and entitled "Cupola Art Teaches Iron History at Bluff Furnace," this SIA publication now brings an international audience to the site, its art, and its history.

45 comments:

  1. great articles and photos! i was wondering if there is any info on that little cave opening at the very end of the trail adjacent to the old furnace? Thanks! =)

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  2. Congratulations for such installations. Looking forward to see its full restoration.

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  3. That looks like it was so much fun! How long did you need to hike to get up there. I bet that a lot of people will be happy to see that furnace. If I am ever in that area, I will have to go up there and check it out!

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  4. What an ingenuity, the combined fun and hard work has paid off.

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  5. That is really cool! Unfortunately, my furnace went out at the beginning of the winter season and I had to get it replaced. Luckily, I have a great company I worked with, and they brought me a new furnace in no time and replaced my old one. It was great. So glad to see that you restored yours as well!

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  6. I think that it's great how quickly people can get in and do edmonton furnace cleaning. It makes your home's air so much cleaner, I highly recommend it.

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  7. Thank you for this info about furnace. Really great.

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  8. Awesome!!! I tried a similar project with a goodman gas furnace but had to give up.

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  9. I am so confused about some of the basic things I have learned about the Edmonton furnace cleaning. It should be a regular process I would imagine. Thanks for sharing this information.

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  10. This is truly amazing! There is a restored furnace in Edmonton that I have been dying to capture some photos of, thank you for the inspiration!

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  11. This is so cool, but I don't think I get how this was used as a furnace? What was its purpose being out there and as big as it is, still really cool though. I've been on the hunt for some furnaces Edmonton that I could re-salvage and give to those in need but its crazy how many I've come across and the different types there are out there.

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  12. Those are some awesome pictures. Looks like you guys were hard at work. Do you know if there is a furnace in Calgary like that? I would love to see one.

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  13. Thats really cool! I have to work on a lot of furnaces in Lethbridge and that has been interesting.

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  14. It is really nice for me to see you and your great hardwork again.Every piece of your work look excellent.Looking forward to learing more from you!
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  17. That is absolutely lovely! I wonder if there are any similar furnaces in Edmonton.

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  18. That is awesome! Congratulations. I have worked with furnaces in Vancouver for quite a while.

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  19. These are really cool pictures! I need some furnace cleaning in calgary. Do you know anyone who can help?

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  20. I think that I'm going need a new furnaces for my house in Vancouver.

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  21. I have never seen these kinds of furnaces in Vancouver. Are they very affective? I would love to see the reviews of them.

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  22. Wow, that's awesome. I'm sure that the furnaces in Red Deer would like to see this, that's for sure!

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  23. Such a large furnace can warm a huge entire room, an applause to the makers of that.

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  24. I have been trying to find furnaces edmonton. Does anybody know where I can find one?

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  25. That is a great community symbol. I'm glad that you had it fixed to remember the past. That is what makes our communities unique. I was needing furnace repair in Calgary and came across this. I'm glad I did.

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  26. Keeping your home warm is important for your health and comfort, and a good heating system (coupled with proper insulation, ventilation and moisture control) makes it much easier to do.

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  27. This is great. You both look much smarter to make something than me! I am just going to get Custom Comfort Inc to fix my furnace.

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  28. I was recently doing some home repairs. I had to buy and install a new furnace. I am amazed at how easy it was to get that thing in their and all hooked in. Lets hope I don't have to replace this furnace anytime soon.

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  29. Interesting. I've never heard of this! Kudos on the repair and restore!

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  30. Oh, I thought this was a real furnace. I was wondering what kind of house would require that big of a furnace. You did a good job at construction though. I think I got some ideas for my furnace.

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  31. I have a furnace that is acting up. It's been great in the 4 years that I've lived here. I don't know what's wrong with it. http://www.lucedfurnaces.com/furnacesboilers.html

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  32. This is really cool! What exactly is the function of this? I assume that it would channel the smoke made by the fire below. What is also the history behind it? I see the years 1856-1860 on it. What do those mean?

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  33. My house is going to freeze me to death. I don't think my furnace is working correctly. The funny thing is that this has happened to three others that I know. I want to know what I have to do to get it fixed.
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  35. Great article. Can you tell how much time it takes in building and what are its uses. Furnace Installation Toront


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  36. This comment has been removed by the author.

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