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BY T. DEVON ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
HOPEWELL — With time to spare for the Fourth of July weekend, the National Parks Service has completed the first phase of a project to prevent drastic erosion at Appomattox Manor.
The $1.3 million project, which spans about 450 feet along the steepest and tallest portions of the bluff, was completed a month before the lowest estimated time of construction.
“We were hoping to have it done in six months and we got it done in five,” said Dave Shockley, chief of resource management of the Petersburg National Battlefield.
This natural process of erosion, which has been eating away at the bluff for thousands of years, began to accelerate rapidly by 2003’s Hurricane Isabel, Shockley said.
Normally, the National Parks Service allows nature to run its course, Shockley said in January before the start of the project, but the structures atop the bluff and artifacts within the bluff were determined to be invaluable.
“We wanted to protect this bluff to protect the cultural resources in this bluff,” Shockley said.
During the construction work, several artifacts have been found, which are being processed by the William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research.
“We’re pretty excited for what we found,” Shockley said. “We found artifacts predating 1650.”
The artifacts include pieces of an English flintlock pistol, breastplates, a full set of antlers, intricately carved antlers, and projectile points.
“We found historic and prehistoric items right next to each other,” Shockley said. “We don’t know what we have yet.”
Once the items are put in perspective, they will be put on display at Appomattox Manor.
Below the manor house, the signs of construction are still visible but are beginning to regain a natural look.
The walking path along the James and Appomattox rivers has been raised about 10 feet above mean high tide to further protect the bluff from flooding and erosion.
Grass and other plants have took rook along the restored slope and in niches built into the retaining wall to sustain vegetation.
The concrete wall itself will soon receive a coat of earth tone paint to help disguise it. Permanent plantings that will further mask the retaining wall will be installed in the fall, Shockley said.
“We wanted to make the water view aesthetically pleasing,” he said.
Although the construction is complete, the National Parks Service is giving the grass on the bluff another week to establish itself.
The second phase of the project is due to begin in 2010. This phase will extend the raise shoreline an additional 1,000 feet.
T. DeVon Robinson may be reached at 722-5160 or at trobinson@progress-index.com.
Online at: http://www.progress-index.com/site/n...d=462946&rfi=6
MORE NEWS
BY T. DEVON ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
HOPEWELL — With time to spare for the Fourth of July weekend, the National Parks Service has completed the first phase of a project to prevent drastic erosion at Appomattox Manor.
The $1.3 million project, which spans about 450 feet along the steepest and tallest portions of the bluff, was completed a month before the lowest estimated time of construction.
“We were hoping to have it done in six months and we got it done in five,” said Dave Shockley, chief of resource management of the Petersburg National Battlefield.
This natural process of erosion, which has been eating away at the bluff for thousands of years, began to accelerate rapidly by 2003’s Hurricane Isabel, Shockley said.
Normally, the National Parks Service allows nature to run its course, Shockley said in January before the start of the project, but the structures atop the bluff and artifacts within the bluff were determined to be invaluable.
“We wanted to protect this bluff to protect the cultural resources in this bluff,” Shockley said.
During the construction work, several artifacts have been found, which are being processed by the William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research.
“We’re pretty excited for what we found,” Shockley said. “We found artifacts predating 1650.”
The artifacts include pieces of an English flintlock pistol, breastplates, a full set of antlers, intricately carved antlers, and projectile points.
“We found historic and prehistoric items right next to each other,” Shockley said. “We don’t know what we have yet.”
Once the items are put in perspective, they will be put on display at Appomattox Manor.
Below the manor house, the signs of construction are still visible but are beginning to regain a natural look.
The walking path along the James and Appomattox rivers has been raised about 10 feet above mean high tide to further protect the bluff from flooding and erosion.
Grass and other plants have took rook along the restored slope and in niches built into the retaining wall to sustain vegetation.
The concrete wall itself will soon receive a coat of earth tone paint to help disguise it. Permanent plantings that will further mask the retaining wall will be installed in the fall, Shockley said.
“We wanted to make the water view aesthetically pleasing,” he said.
Although the construction is complete, the National Parks Service is giving the grass on the bluff another week to establish itself.
The second phase of the project is due to begin in 2010. This phase will extend the raise shoreline an additional 1,000 feet.
T. DeVon Robinson may be reached at 722-5160 or at trobinson@progress-index.com.
Online at: http://www.progress-index.com/site/n...d=462946&rfi=6