Attachment_6_Fountain_Conservation_and_Restoration_Report_0002.pdf

McLOUGHLIN HOUSE FOUNTAIN: CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION REPORT, November 2020.

JJ. Claire Dean

Prepared for: Fort Vancouver National Historical Site, Vancouver, Washington.

Prepared by: Dean and Associates Conservation Services, Portland, Oregon.

November 2020

Dean and Associates Conservation Services 3438 NE 62nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97213, USA

Tel: 503-784-8766 E-mail: jclairedean@gmail.com

CONSERVATION TREATMENT REPORT

Location at start of treatment: McLoughlin House, 713 Center Street, Oregon City, Oregon.

General description: The fountain is cast iron and as a feature comprises six main parts; the concrete lined pool in which the fountain stands, a hexagonal concrete base on which the fountain stands, the hexagonal fountain base, pedestal, the top basin and a decorative top section (now missing). The fountain (Figure 1) is recirculating with the main water reservoir held in the pool from which it is pumped up through the pedestal, into the upper basin, eventually overflowing back into the pool below. Originally, the water passed up through the decorative top (a figure of a small child holding a parasol over their head) and out of the tip of the parasol from where it flowed down into the basin and ultimately the pool.

The water level is maintained by periodically topping up the pool by manually opening and closing a valve (located in an adjacent, in-ground valve box). This allows water to flow directly onto the pool through a pipe that protrudes through the side of the pool. The water source for the fountain is provided by the main city water supply and is unconditioned (other than the normal water treatment given to the mains water by the City of Oregon City).

The pump is a simple recirculating, submerged pump that is placed in the bottom of the pool, adjacent to the central pedestal on which the fountain stands. Electrical power is supplied

Object ID: N/A

Owner/agent: McLoughlin House, Oregon City, managed by Ft. Vancouver National Historical Site (FOVA), Vancouver, Washington.

Artist: N/A

Date: C. 1911

Object: Decorative fountain

Materials: Concrete, cast iron, paint (not original)

1. General view of the McLoughlin House fountain in operation prior to the 2020 restoration.

2. The plumbing connecting the pump (below the water at the bottom of the photograph) with the central water pipe that runs up the center of the fountain into the basin at the top.

to the pump by a sealed electrical connection/outlet that protrudes from the side of the pool. The pump is connected to the main, steel, central pipe inside the fountain by a combination of types of flexible plastic pipes and plastic fittings, hose clamped to each other and to the out flow from the pump.

The section that attaches to the pump is clearly visible as it protrudes from the bottom of the fountain pedestal, bends down the side of the concrete base and then to the pump (Figure 2). This system seems to be rather makeshift, unattractive, and not historically accurate in appearance (hard pipe plumbing was used originally).

The fountain pedestal is constructed from three, cast iron, panels, decorated with a standing bird motif, that cover the water pipe. The seams between each panel bisect the bird figures (Figure 3). The three panels are each attached to the cast iron, hexagonal base at their bottom edges with round-head bolts or pins (some are missing or are no longer structurally complete).

The hexagonal base is in turn bolted to the similarly shaped concrete base. It was further connected to the concrete base by the application of a cement lip that captured the bottom edges of the base feet (this was apparently applied as part of a restoration in 1978, see section below).

As a result of the current restoration, we now know that the tops of the pedestal panels are held in place by a retaining ring through which the panels are pinned to the ring (Figure 4).

Attached to the center of the underside of the top basin is a 1” thick, steel plate disc (Figure 5).

The means of attachment of the disc to the basin is not clear, but it is undoubtedly not part of the original casting of the basin. The basin and the decorative pedestal are joined by means of a cast iron collar with internal flanges, top and bottom, that receive the basin and attached disc (top of collar) and the pedestal and its retaining ring (bottom of collar).

There are a series of vertical, threaded holes in the interior of the top basin – these were likely used to attach the decorative fountain top (the figure of a child with a parasol) which has been missing for many years.

3. The north facing side of the fountain pedestal showing an example of the gaps in the seams between panels, a missing bolt (right), rust staining from attachment bolts and the unpainted interior, and the heavy layer of green-grey, deposited minerals on the upper parts of the panels.

A water pipe (originally 1” diameter but later replaced by insertion of a ¾” diameter pipe inside the original) , runs up the center of the fountain, through the basin and its attached disc, emerging in the center of the basin. Originally this pipe would have extended up through the missing top figure, emerging at the top of the parasol. This is clearly seen in early photographs of the fountain.

Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the metal parts of the fountain.

Also located in the main pool, on the west side of the fountain, is a tall, rectangular concrete block displaying a cast bronze plaque commemorating the restoration of the fountain in 1978. There is a second commemorative aluminium plaque, attached directly to the fountain pedestal, marking the 1994 restoration.

The 1978 commemorative plaque and concrete block appear to be free standing, as indicated by historic photographs where its position has clearly changed.

The cast iron components of the fountain are currently painted a metallic, teal green colour. Examination of historic photographs reveals that the fountain has been repainted several times, using different colours. The photograph of the dedication of the fountain in 1911 clearly shows that the original paint scheme was likely two-toned with the upper basin being a shade of white and the pedestal a slightly darker colour. Existing examples of similar fountains of the period indicate pale green was a popular and fashionable contrasting colour.

4. The pedestal during sandblasting to remove old paint. The retaining ring holding the tops of the pedestal panels in place can be clearly seen.

5. The underside of the basin showing the decorative retaining collar that connects the basin to the pedestal, and the massive steel disc attached to the bottom of the basin which serves to support and align the basin when placed on the pedestal. Also, visible protruding from the center of the disc, are the remains of the original, 1” diameter central water pipe and the stub of the ¾” pipe inserted inside the original pipe in 1978.

6. Exploded view of the primary, cast iron parts of the fountain.

The castings of the various parts of the fountain are, in general, of poor quality, especially the basin, with multiple and badly finished flash lines and rough, pitted surfaces. Some of the extreme pitting visible on the interior surface of the basin (Figure 7) may also be the result of a combination of poor quality metal and casting methods, irregular maintenance and the resulting aggressive corrosion from over 100 years of near continuous submersion in water. This fountain is certainly not representative of the highest quality of decorative cast iron that would have been available in the U.S.A. at the time it was made.

Further details of the history of the fountain are contained in “Mcloughlin House Fountain, Oregon City:

Historic Research”, a report produced in November 2019 by Dean and Associates Conservation Services (DACS) and provided to FOVA.

Maintenance and restoration history: Actions taken during two, known restoration episodes, as well as recent maintenance practices explain most aspects of the condition of the fountain at the time of the current, 2020, restoration.

Other than periodic repainting suggested by historic photographs, there have been two known, significant, restorations of the fountain, both commemorated on plaques associated with the fountain, and both instigated and supported by the Oregon City Woman’s Club. Despite efforts to uncover definitive records of the restorations, none were found. All the information available has been gleaned from press accounts and through conversations with local residents.

1978 Restoration – The plaque associated with the 1978 restoration simply records that the fountain was “reconstructed and restored” and then rededicated on June 18th, 1978. However, during the recent deinstallation of the fountain (see section on Treatment, below) a life-long, local resident informed me that in the late 1970s the fountain was broken apart “ by kids” with “a sledge hammer”, breaking it into several pieces. He went on to explain that a local engineering company, owned by two brothers with the last name Ghering, took on the repair work, restored and reinstalled it1. While the visitor could not recall the exact date that this took place, he agreed that it would seem to coincide with the work commemorated on the 1978 plaque. This would also explain the use of “reconstructed” in the plaque text. This severe damage is also likely the explanation for the losses to

1 The visitor told me that one of the brothers, Dale Ghering, now elderly, still lives at 817 Center Street, a few houses down the street from the McLoughlin House.

7. The interior surface of the basin after sandblasting to remove old paint. The severely pitted surface can be clearly seen.

the corners of the bird motif panels that make up the pedestal. It may also account for major cracks to the neck areas of two of the birds in two pedestal panels (Figure 8). Cast iron is brittle by nature.

Had the neck areas been hit hard, sideways (for example with a sledge hammer), it is more than possible that the necks cracked and bent slightly out of plane, while still remaining attached at the point where the bird’s heads are part of the overall casting.

The pedestal panel corner losses also resulted in the loss of original attachment holes for the bolts that held the pedestal to the hexagonal base. As a result, additional, holes were drilled into the bottom edges of the panels to allow for attachment with new bolts. Figure 10, in the section on Condition, below, shows the locations of all bolt holes and corner losses.

During the deinstallation of the fountain this year, it was discovered that a 1” thick steel plate had been added high in the interior of the pedestal (level with the top of the bird wings). It was attached to the panels at three points with welds and pins (Figure 15) - the pins seem to go through the thickness of the associated panel where they immerge behind the tops of the bird wings. They have been ground flush on the exterior and were hidden by the thick, exterior paint. The plate also prevented the panels from meeting along their vertical edges, resulting in the open gaps between the panels. The plate and welds were clearly not original to the fountain based on condition, type of materials used and the fact that the presence of the plate was preventing the panels from closing up which they clearly once did as seen in historical photographs.

The existing water pipe was also new as it was not of a type manufactured in 1911. On dismantling the fountain, it was found that the existing, modern, ¾” diameter pipe had been inserted inside what was left of the original 1” diameter pipe, a section of which remained in place above the inserted

8. The locations of the two cracks in two of the pedestal panels indicated by the black arrows - the southwest panel (left) and the north panel (right). The pedestal corner losses are also visible in this photographs.

plate (Figure 16). It is assumed that the plate had been inserted to provide additional structural strength to the fountain, but it also, unfortunately, fixed the gaps between the panels in place.

The new pipe had been caulked into the original central hole in the basin, filling the ⅛” gap around the slightly narrower pipe.

At some point a cement facing layer was added to the outside of the hexagonal concrete base and brought up over the bottom edges of the metal base feet, capturing them in place. This almost certainly took place in 1978 because there are areas where the lip is missing, although a scar remains, and the teal-green paint used in the 1994 restoration has run over the scar (Figure 9). It seems as if this cement addition may also have been installed to help shim and level the fountain, which would strongly suggest that it was applied as part of the 1978 work as it appears that the fountain was not taken apart in 1994, but restored insitu.

It does not appear that any effort was made to repair the cracks in the necks of the birds on two of the pedestal panels as part of the 1978 restoration.

1994 Restoration – In early March 2020, Karin Morey, Historian, Oregon City Woman's Club, sent me copies of some newspaper articles from 1994 recently found by a club member that provide some details of the restoration that year2. The fountain was not deinstalled but sandblasted and repainted in place (most likely with the metallic teal green), as indicated by the overspray of paint that could be seen on the concrete base (Figure 9). It seems likely that some additional concrete repair work was also done at that time as there is a photograph from 1994 (source unrecorded but in a club scrapbook) showing a club member pointing out the obvious poor condition of the concrete, including losses to the rim of the pool that are now clearly patched. This colour photograph also shows that the fountain was painted black immediately prior to the 1994 restoration. It was also at this time that the current recirculating pump system was installed. This work was carried out by Oregon City Public Works, funded in part by a donation from the Women’s Club.

2 Club scrapbooks contain an article from The Oregon City News (dated January 1994) reporting the planned restoration, and a second cutting from The Oregonian (not dated) reporting some details of work that had already been carried out and other work that was expected to take place.

9. An example of the 1978 applied cement facing and lip (upper left) and an area where the lip has broken away. The 1996 teal-green paint can be seen overlaying both the intact lip and the surface of the scar left by the loss of the lip. This indicates that the cement facing and lip predate 1996 and most likely were part of the 1978 restoration. Some overspray of the paint can also be seen on the surface in the space between the base feet.

One of the press cuttings reported that the concrete pool would also be “made more shallow” in the belief that this would prevent algal growth. It is not clear whether this alteration took place.

The facts about the vandalism and subsequent restoration in the 1970s, and the details of the 1994 restoration, all came to light after concluding the initial historic research that culminated in my November 2019 report.

General maintenance –There are no maintenance records for the general upkeep of the fountain.

However, it is routinely winterized each year (pool and plumbing drained, pump removed, etc.).

During the months when the fountain is operational, the FOVA maintenance staff regularly scoop out leaves, twigs and other debris that find their way into the pool and which cause it to become stagnant, unsightly and can clog the pump.

In addition to generally cleaning out the pool, maintenance personnel have attempted to control biological growth in the water by adding a variety of chemicals to the pool including, but not limited to, swimming pool chemicals, commercial biocide solutions, and household bleach. Blue pool water dye has also been used periodically in an effort to improve the appearance of the water and make the pump less visually obvious. Records of exactly what products were used, and when, have not been kept and this information has been provided anecdotally by maintenance staff. These are not appropriate for the upkeep of this historic feature and the likely impact these additives have had on the condition of the fountain and the concrete pool is discussed below in the sections on Condition and Water Quality.

Condition, summer 2020: Structural – The general poor condition of the fountain first noted in 2014 when DACS was asked to carry out a needs assessment and treatment proposal (provided to FOVA in February 2015). The condition of the fountain had continued to decline since then.

At the time of the current work, recorded in this document, the following structural issues were present:

Surface pitting – As mentioned above, many of the surfaces of the metal castings are pitted.

This is especially true for the interior of the basin which is, by its function, constantly wet.

This is likely the result of aggressive corrosion encouraged by the presence of water combined with poor quality iron and manufacturing technique, poor maintenance (such as lack or regular cleaning and repainting) and possibly chemical contamination from efforts to control water quality (see section below).

Missing and/or weak attachment bolts between pedestal and hexagonal base and physical losses to panel corners – Figure 10 shows a series of photos of the lower edges of the north, south, east, and west facing sides of the fountain, along with a diagram of the condition of the attachment bolts holding the panels in association with the hexagonal metal base. The positions of the losses to the panel corners are also indicated. These losses clearly took place before 1996 and the application of the teal-green paint which covers the edges of these breaks. As suggested above, these losses are likely to have occurred because of the 1978 vandalism.

North South East West

Rusted Bolt

Missing Bolt

Painted Bolt

N Loss

10. Diagram of pedestal panel bases showing losses on north and southeast panels, and missing, rusting and painted bolts.

Structural instability – It was found that the physical attachment of the fountain to the concrete base was dangerously insufficient. The entire fountain could be moved, if leaned

on. This indicated seriously deteriorated and failed attachment bolts. The presence of extensive rust staining in the areas of the bolts supported this observation.

Gaps between the pedestal panels – The presence of gaps between the pedestal panels, not visible in historical photographs, indicates that the fountain has shifted or otherwise been displaced.

This is concerning from a structural standpoint. After deinstallation it was discovered that a steel plate had been inserted high inside the pedestal (see Description, above) and this is likely the cause of the gaps.

Corrosion of attachment points between metal base and concrete base – After deinstallation the corrosion shadows of at least three, angle straps were seen in the sides of the metal base.

These appear to have been the location of attachment points for securing the metal base to the concrete base. Whether or not these were original to 1911, or what was left of plates added in 1978 is not clear. What was apparent, however, was that by the time the fountain was deinstalled this year, any remains of them had either corroded away or they had been removed as part of the 1978 restoration and replaced with a series of new bolts on adjacent metal tabs, also corroded away by this year. Also evident was that by this year, the fountain was only being held in place by two, ⅝” – ¾” bolts, one of which was about 50% corroded away, the other having lost about 20% of its diameter.

Corrosion of hexagonal base feet – The bottom edges of all the hexagonal base feet are badly corroded with significant loss of material on the interior faces and corrosion jacking on the bottom edges of most of them (Figure 11). This surface loss leaves the feet thin and compromised strength-wise. These feet carry the entire weight of the fountain which is several hundred pounds. While it was apparent that there had been some surface loss on the interior, the extent of loss was not discernable until we were able to lift the base and inspect the leading edges. It is possible that the capture of these edges by the applied cement lip (see description, above) may have exacerbated the corrosion by trapping water in contact with the metal.

Poor condition of water and electrical outlets – The seals in the side of the concrete pool around both the water inlet and the electrical connection are old, pealing back and no longer watertight. This is further indicated by the presence of small plant roots coming out from around the electrical connection seal, into the pool. The failing seals are likely causing water to leak from the pool. The water pipe protruding from the pool wall is also heavily corroded and in need of replacement.

General poor condition of the concrete – The overall physical condition of the concrete pool is poor and generally soft, with surface crazing and flaking of what appear to be repeated refacing of the pool with thin cement skim coats, or similar (Figure 12). There are also two major cracks that contain old repairs filled with a flexible compound that is now hardening and aging. There are also several old cement patches, especially around the edge of the pool, that are beginning to crack and fail. The physical condition of the pool may also be under threat from tree root activity that has in several places already lifted the concrete and flagstone area surrounding the pool.

11. Examples of the extreme corrosion of the feet of the hexagonal metal base.

12. General view of the concrete pool, after deinstallation of the fountain. The flaking condition of the pool interior is clearly visible, as are two existing and aging crack repairs (the pair of pale gray, vertical lines, running from the top edge of the pool down below the water line). Between these repairs can be seen the electrical connection point (to the right of the left-hand crack repair), and the water inlet (at the water line and to the left of the right-hand crack repair). The two thin, dark, parallel lines running vertically below the electrical connection are lengths of plant roots, indicating that the seal is no longer functioning. Also visible are several patches of the concrete rim, in particular towards the right of the photograph, where a large repair can be seen beginning to crack away from the pool.

Visual – General wear and tear and age account for many of the visual issues regarding the condition of the fountain. However, some relate to past restoration and maintenance efforts.

Gaps between pedestal panels – As mentioned above, the insertion of a massive steel plate high in the interior of the pedestal has resulted in the splaying out of the panels which are consequently held in this position by the welded plate. This was likely part of the 1978 restoration, and it may not be possible to correct this displacement without significant risk of further damage to the pedestal panels.

Mineral deposits over painted surfaces – There is a heavy layer of pale, grey-green mineral deposit covering the painted surface of many parts of the fountain, especially the interior of the basin and the upper parts of the pedestal panels (Figures 3 and 8). The source of these minerals is not immediately apparent as the quality of the water that feeds the fountain is low in dissolved minerals. Therefore, it is likely that this material comes from minerals leached out of the concrete pool, and from various additives used to control biological growth in the pool. Please see following section on Water Quality.

Historically inaccurate paint colour – Examination of photographs taken at the time of the dedication of the fountain in July 1911 clearly show that the fountain was not painted a dark colour. Research suggests that it was most likely off-white with the pedestal and base being a second pale colour. It certainly would not have had a metallic finish (as it currently does) as such paints were not commonly available or in fashion for decorative garden features in 1911.

Deteriorating concrete – The deteriorating concrete pool is unsightly and in its current condition difficult to maintain without causing further loss of the surface.

Biological growth in the water – Conditioning fountain and pond water so that it remains clear and attractive is a major task for any property with such a feature. Several approaches, all chemical based, seem to have been tried with mixed results. They only help with the biological growth for a limited period and they may have been detrimental to the physical preservation of the fountain and the concrete pool.

Water quality: The fountain and pool are charged via a water outlet connected to the Oregon City mains water supply. Information provided by the Oregon City Department of Public Works’ testing of the supply indicates that the water coming into the pool has a pH of 7.8 (pot ash is added to the city supply during water treatment to raise the pH thereby helping protect pipes and plumbing fixtures from deterioration). The dissolved mineral content of the water is low – it averages 46 ppm which characterizes the water as being slightly soft. Chlorides and other dissolved materials that may be a cause for concern regarding the physical condition of the fountain are also extremely low. This indicates that, other than being an inevitable catalyst of iron corrosion in places where the bare metal is exposed, it is not the quality of the water, as it enters the pool, that is the likely cause of the deterioration of the concrete, or the buildup of mineral scale on the fountain itself.

This leaves the periodic addition of chemicals to the pool to control biological growth as the most likely source of the surface mineral deposits and the deterioration of the concrete. Both swimming pool chemicals and household bleach have reportedly been added to the water. The addition of these chemicals does little more than temporarily improve the situation whilst resulting in an ever-increasing concentration of the chemicals in the water as it evaporates and is then topped up and more chemicals added. These chemicals are likely to be a source of the mineral deposits visible over the surface of the green paint.

Additionally, the increase in pH of the water, likely caused by these chemicals, can attack concrete, resulting in leaching out the mineral binding materials in the concrete, causing the concrete to weaken in a manner clearly visible on the interior surface of the fountain pool. The dissolved concrete minerals are then circulated through the fountain and ultimately add to the layer of deposited minerals seen on the painted surfaces. As swimming pools are also commonly made of concrete, the use of swimming pool maintenance chemicals would seem to be appropriate for use in a concrete lined fountain pool. However, swimming pools are constructed from either concrete formulated to protect it from water with a raised pH (the result of the necessary addition of pool chemicals for hygiene purposes), or the pool is lined with a coating resistant to higher pH water. The McLoughlin House fountain pool is almost certainly not constructed from such materials.

Initial research suggests the use of enzymes and/or bacteria to control biological growth in the pool may be a better approach. An example of such a product is Macro-Zyme Beneficial Bacteria, manufactured by Kasco® (https://kascomarine.com/product/macro-zyme-beneficial-bacteria/).

These products are considered non-toxic to animals or people, environmentally friendly and a sustainable way to approach maintaining water quality.

Another avenue of research would be the installation of a UV filtration system. While the name is a little misleading (they do not physically filter out material), they do kill primarily algae which then are collected in a pump filter. A good explanation of their function can be found here https://www.envii.co.uk/pond-blog-post/pond-uv-lights/ . UV systems are more expensive that the use of beneficial bacteria and enzymes, and the bulbs must be periodically replaced.

UV systems are primary effective for controlling algae, while beneficial bacteria help control algae, sludge, odour and other biological growth-related problems. Either way, the regular addition of harsh and aggressive chemicals to the McLoughlin House fountain should be avoided for the health and safety of the visiting public and maintenance staff, as well as the preservation of the fountain itself.

Proposed treatment: Due to the general poor condition of the fountain and its structural instability, it was proposed that the fountain be deinstalled, cleaned, new attachment tabs welded to the hexagonal base feet, repainted and reinstalled. However, as the current project progressed, earlier concerns that additional work would be needed to repair the concrete pool and improve the fountain’s plumbing became apparent. As reinstalling the fountain without also addressing these additional needs made no sense and current resources were limited, it was agreed that the best course of action would be to deinstall the fountain, restore it and then hold it in storage until the extent and cost of the additional work could be estimated.

Treatment: All research and treatment were either caried out or overseen by conservator J. Claire Dean, DACS. Deinstallation and metal restoration of the fountain parts was carried out by Jim Schmidt, artist and metal fabricator, Art & Design Works, LLC., a subcontractor to DACS.

The following work was carried out:

1. Historic research into the manufacture and original appearance of the fountain was carried out, as well as documentation of the fountain, prior to the start of any physical deinstallation.

2. The fountain was deinstalled on September 6th, 2020, by a crew overseen by conservator J.

Claire Dean and led by Jim Schmidt, with help from personnel from Western Iron Works, Gaston, Oregon (Figure 13).

It had been hoped that the fountain would come apart into its various sections, but they appeared to be fixed, or fused together into one piece.

13. The fountain immediately after removal from its base.

3. The Hexagonal base was separated from the rest of the fountain by cutting through the bolts replaced in the 1978 restoration – they could not be reversed as they had corroded and seized in place.

4. The hexagonal metal base was removed from the concrete base by cutting the two remaining bolts – again, these were so badly corroded that they could not be reversed.

5. The fountain was removed from the McLoughlin House grounds in two parts (the hexagonal base and the combined pedestal, retaining collar and basin) and taken to Western Iron Works for initial examination and preparation for cleaning, minor repair and repainting (Figure 14).

6. Once at Western Iron Works, the steel plate inserted in 1978 was cut out to see if additional fabrication work had been carried out in 1978 which might be preventing the fountain from breaking down into its original sections (Figure 15). If nothing else, its removal might allow for the repositioning of the pedestal panels to reduce the gaps between them. No additional fabrication was obvious, yet the sections remained tightly in place.

After discussions between J. Claire Dean and Jim Schmidt it was recommended that no further attempt be made to disassemble the parts as this would present significant risk of damage or breakage of the brittle cast iron, especially around the tops of the pedestal panels. This recommendation was accepted.

15. The interior of the pedestal looking towards the underside of the basin. The left photograph shows the plate inserted in 1978 with the central water pipe passing through it. On the right the plate has been cut out to access the area between the basin and the plate in the hope that the parts could be separated, or at least the panels repositioned to close up the gaps between the panels. The plate was cut out as trying to drill out the pins and welds was considered to high of a risk of damage to the panels.

14. The fountain, in two parts, prior to being secured in place for transportation to Western Iron Works. The pedestal and basin section are furthest away from the camera, and the hexagonal base is in the foreground.

7. Further preparation involved the removal of the existing central water pipe. It was at this time that it was discovered that in 1978 they had inserted a smaller diameter pipe inside the original which remained only as a small, badly corroded section between the underside of the basin and the inserted steel plate (Figure 16).

8. The fountain and base where then sandblasted to remove all paint and surface corrosion in preparation for welding on new attachment tabs and then repainting. The likelihood of finding original paint had already been eliminated by the knowledge that the fountain had been sandblasted in 1996 when it was last painted. It is also likely that the parts were blasted in 1978 as part of that restoration project.

9. During the final stages of sandblasting the pedestal finally came loose from the retaining collar. A mixture of corrosion and coats of paint that had seeped into the join between the two were what was holding them together. This separation revealed the presence of an original retaining ring placed around the tops of the pedestal panels and pinned in place Figure 4). This ring had originally been interpreted as an integral part of the decorative retaining collar (seen on the outside of the assembled fountain and that holds the basin and pedestal in position relative to each other), as the join between the two was hidden. The decorative retaining collar remains attached to the underside of the basin. The presence of rust stains at this join and the well-defined edges of the two parts suggests that they were separate components, although at present they remain fused together. The separation of the pedestal also revealed the presence of a large, apparently original, steel disc attached to the bottom of the basin which acts to register the alignment of the basin and pedestal when assembled (Figure 5).

10. On completion of sandblasting the pieces were primed with two coats of Sherwin- Williams®, Pro Industrial™ Pro-Cryl® Universal Acrylic Primer applied by brush to guarantee complete coating of the textured and pitted surfaces, and to protect them as much as possible from flash corrosion.

11. The sections were then taken to Art & Design Works’ studio where new, stainless steel attachment tabs were secured to the inside of the hexagonal base feet by bolting through existing holes in the base casting (Figure 17). The tabs were bolted in place, rather than welded, as welding to the corroded cast iron substrate of the base was difficult and likely to result in structurally poor welds due to the general condition of the corroded cast iron.

16. The section of original 1911 pipe with the 1978 pipe inserted inside it.

17. The interior of the hexagonal base on delivery to Ft.

Vancouver. The new tabs for attaching the base to the concrete base in the center of the fountain pool can be seen in the fore and backgrounds. Here, the background tab is being used to bolt the finished base and pedestal to the transportation pallet.

This system utilizes the original holes in the base that held the original attachment angle brackets in place.

18. The view looking up the inside of the pedestal from the bottom of the newly reattached hexagonal base. The new, circular retention plate, bolted to the remains of the 1978 steel plate can be seen, through which the replacement, stainless steel central water pipe has been passed. Also visible is the new stainless steel hardware holding the pedestal and base together, using existing holes in both the pedestal panels and the base.

12. In ward mechanical pressure was applied with ratchet straps wrapped around the outside of the pedestal in an effort to close the gaps between the pedestal panels as much as possible.

This met with limited success.

13. A thinner, replacement steel plate was fabricated to be attached to the remaining stubs of the 1978 restoration steel plate, but bolted in place, rather than rewelded (Figure 18). This will allow for removal in the future, if needed. The plate was replaced to increase overall structural strength of the pedestal and to help hold the pedestal panels in better alignment.

14. A replacement, stainless steel, central water pipe with lower screw attachment fitting, was fabricated and secured through the plate so that it protrudes above the pedestal and can be passed through the bottom of the top basin when it is placed back in position (Figures 18 and 19).

15. The fountain was painted with two coats of Sherwin-Williams®, Pro Industrial™ Water Based Catalyzed Epoxy paint, in SW 6436, Bonsai Tint (pale green), and SW 7008, Alabaster (off-white). The paint was applied by brush to insure complete coverage of pitted surfaces and all undercuts and depressions in the shape and form of the fountain. The basin was painted off-white and the pedestal and hexagonal base were painted pale green. These colours and the areas covered by each were chosen and determined by FOVA curatorial staff based on historical research.

16. The replacement plate and water pipe were assembled inside the pedestal, and the pedestal and hexagonal base were bolted together to form a single unit (Figure 18). This also allowed for the external surfaces of the hardware bolting the pedestal to the base to be painted the appropriate colour.

17. The fountain was transported in two units (the top basin and the combined hexagonal base and pedestal) to FOVA for storage on November 27th, 2020 (Figure 19). The protective plastic wrapping was not removed in order to keep the refinished surface protected from dust and dirt while in storage.

18. The fountain on arrival at FOVA, Building 405, Friday, November 27th, 2020. The new, central water pipe can be seen protruding from the top of the pedestal and base section, right. The top basin, left, is lying upside down on its pallet.

The entire process was documented photographically, and this archive of images has been provided to FOVA for their records.

Recommendations:

Water quality control - The use of swimming pool chemicals or household disinfectants such as bleach, to control biological growth in the water should be discontinued to protect both the fountain and the concrete pool. The use of bacterial biological control and/or the use of UV light conditioning of the water should be adopted.

Replace pump and plumbing – The fountain should be provided with upgraded, hard pipe plumbing and a new pump. It proved hard to find contractors to provide an estimate for the cost of such work for several reasons. Either they were too busy catching up on work delayed by COVID-19 work restrictions earlier this year and which continue, albeit to a lesser degree, or because the job is relatively small and therefore of less interest, or because I could not provide them with any firm indication of when the work might take place. It was also important that the contractor be sensitive towards the historic integrity of the fountain and its setting3. Eventually, and at the recommendation of Jim Schmidt, Jake Philips of HPS Pipe & Supply, Inc., Cornelius, Oregon, met with me on-site, discussed the project and provided an estimate of $836.23 to install new plumbing and a pump, utilizing the existing water supply and electrical outlet. (Appendix A).

Concrete repairs – The work needed to bring the concrete pool back to a stable condition with a durable, but visually appropriate appearance, whilst also retaining as much as possible of the original structure, is a significant undertaking. It also proved hard to find a suitable contractor, for some of the reasons already given for the plumbing, but also because most concrete contractors are not experienced in free form or curved surfaces of the type presented by the fountain pool. Several that I talked with, if interested, pushed to have the entire pool taken out and a brand-new pool designed and fabricated. Eventually, at the recommendation of Jake Philips, HPS Pipe and Supply, Inc., I contacted Jesse McDowell, McDowell Concrete, LLC., Portland, Oregon, a concrete contractor who specializes in fabricating skate parks and swimming pools. I met with him on-site and discussed various options. He explained that because of the poor structural condition of the existing concrete, it would have to be cut back until a stable surface could be found to which new material could bond. He recommended refacing the pool with a 3” thick layer of reinforced shotcrete that would be durable and watertight, while having a weathered, “old” appearance. Details of his proposal are included in his estimate (Appendix B). The estimated cost of this work is $11,500.

Establish maintenance records – A system to keep maintenance records for all aspects of the upkeep of the fountain is essential. This will not only help develop an on-going programme of maintenance, but it will allow the impacts of maintenance actions to be monitored

3 Jake Philips’ family have lived in Oregon City for generations and he grew up familiar with the McLoughlin House and its history (he has a forefather who knew Dr. John McLoughlin). This direct connection to the local community and its history has given him an understanding of the importance of historic integrity.

accurately and assessed for efficacy. It will also provide vital information for people charged with caring for the fountain in the future.

Recommended maintenance:

Recommendations for the annual maintenance of the restored fountain will be provided once the plumbing and concrete work has been undertaken and the fountain reinstalled. This will allow for a full program of appropriate maintenance to be designed and proposed. It will, however, include annual winterization (as is already carried out), along with annual washing and inspection of the fountain. The use of chemicals to condition the water is unlikely to be recommended.

Conservator:

J. Claire Dean

Date(s) of Treatment: September 6th – November 27th, 2020.