Memorial to the unknown souls

Recently, I was given the opportunity to carve a memorial honoring the multitude of unknown souls intered at Gladwyne Jewish cemetery located in Gladwyne, Pa.  

Consecrated in 1890 as "Har Hasetim Jewish cemetery" it soon became known as the prominent resting place for many Jewish families residing in Philadelphia during the late 1800's.

Once I received the proper wording from Beth David congregation I went to work on the preliminary drawing shown below. 

                    

In 1890 the cemetery was composed of 20 acres with the majority of the land laying on a downward sloping hill.  

 

As the 1900's were approaching the suburbs were beginning to expand bringing in more modern and accessible cemeteries leaving Har Hasetim in a diminishing state.  By 1910 it was transforming more into a poverty cemetery.  

The last known person interred into the cemetery was this WW2 Navy seaman in 1945 shown below.

With no burials since 1945 the cemetery fell into disrepair, becoming overgrown and impassable to the point of practically disappearing into the forrest and underbrush.

Fast forward to the present finds the cemetery has been reduced in size over the past century to about three acres. It is now being cared for by neighboring Beth David Reform Congregation who has made it their mission to find and record the names of any grave sites that can be identified.    

My involvement began after seeing a local news story about the cemetery and its history which sparked my interest to reach out to Beth David Reform Congregation to see how I could help out. 

The committee overseeing the restoration came back to me with a plan to create a memorial stone to honor all those countless souls never to be identified.

I jumped at chance to be part of this endeavor and even offered to donate a few pieces of Vermont white marble that had been stored behind my shop realizing they would be the perfect stone for such an honorable project. 

Here's how it all began with these raw blocks seen below.

The rear and the sides of the memorial were given a heavy chiseled "rock face" finish, while the front of the stone would remain smooth for the proper V cut lettering. 

With the rear of the stone now completly "rock faced" the next step was to start working on the two base stones needed to support this main stone.

Lettering of the dedication dates 2025 and 5785 the current year on the Hebrew calendar.

The next step was draw the lettering onto the main face and start the V cut chiseling.

The rear of the memorial will also have a Menorah carved onto the upper portion.

Click link the below showing video of how I chiseled much of the stone.                                  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EkW_uAIe181pk9zd7UfJvFusKsrdDMVJ/view?usp=sharing

No more trapdoor

 When moving into our home over 28 years ago we knew that we would have to deal with the trapdoor that led to the basement at some point in the future.  The original owner had constructed a heavy trapdoor in the corner of the living room which required a lot of effort to lift in order to enter the stairwell which led down the steps into the basement.

 Below is the trapdoor before starting the construction job.  We had the space neatly covered up with an area rug and antique church bench which hid the trapdoor nicely, but everything needed to be pulled aside each time we wanted to go into the basement. 

The trap door to the basement.

The narrow stairs built from 2x6's were narrow and difficult to walk down.

The stairs lead to an unfinished basement used only for HVAC and storage.

The first new stair stringer in place.

The second stringer and main support post in place.

Cutting the center stringer for placement into the stairs.

Installing "winder" risers at the bottom three treads.

New treads, risers and drywall installed.

Bullnose trim installed.

Top railing and balusters temporary installed prior to disassembly for staining.

Ready for staining.

Painting and staining of railing finished.

Ready for stringer trim and paint.

Carpet runner installed.

Job complete with oak floor in "basement vestibule" which is closed off from unfinished basement.

 

Training day at Williamson Trade School

 I recently had the opportunity to go to Williamson College of the Trades in Media, PA and teach a class on Stone masonry.  I can't say enough good things about the program that they have in place, preparing young men with the skills in theory and practical applications covering a wide variety of trades relevant into today's labor market.

The Brick masonry program at the trade school is run by Pete Zwolak who recognized the need to expand on their current program to include stone masonry into the curriculum. Instructor Pete, a bricklayer by trade, reached out to the Local Stone mason union for their help in putting together a basic stone masonry plan for Williamson's senior class.

When Justin Scarcini, Business Agent/Field Representative of Local 1 Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Philadelphia, PA heard of Pete's plans to incorporate stone masonry into their world class masonry program at Williamson Trade school, he was more than happy to help out.  Justin reached out to me and asked if I'd be interested in spending the day with him teaching a basic class on Stone masonry at the Williamson School.  

I jumped at the chance to help out anyway I could.  Being retired from Local 1 Philadelphia for quite a few years I was thrilled that Justin thought of me to help him teach the stone class to Williamson's senior class.  I'm hoping to expand even further in the future and return to teach a class on the basics of stone carving seen here.

The day began with the students ready to enter their classroom just off the shop floor.

We began the theory class with a basic guide showing how to get started the right way  

a worksheet for practicing the correct way to lay a Ashlar cut stone in the random pattern

Within an hour of theory class we were outside at the stone pile teaching the eager students how to cull through and make ready their stones for the wall.

showing the students how to dress a stone with hammer and chisel into an Ashlar cut, (meaning squared up edged stones).

shortly after a lesson on shaping stone the students picked out their stones and proceeded to chip away

the sounds of hammers filled the air

students stopping now and then to ask for pointers

progress being made

giving a few pointers to each student 

After a few hours had passed it was now time to take the stones they prepared and have them start laying them into a wall with the theory they had learned a few hours earlier.  They are now equipped with the basic knowledge of stone masonry that will only strengthen as they continue their studies. 

At the end of the afternoon we took a class picture that I will cherish for having the opportunity to teach such a fine group of young men who were willing to take the first steps in learning a trade that has been so good to me, and hopefully leave them with a thirst for learning the stone masonry trade in conjuction with their brick studies.

I too am the product of learning the trade from stone masons of Local 1 Philadelphia, PA who showed me the correct methods of proper stone work, and being able to practice that trade for Masonry Contractor Dan LePore and Sons, a signatory contractor in the Philadelphia, PA area that I worked for many years before retiring.   

Left to right, Justin Scarcini- Local 1 Stone Business Agent/Field Representative, to his right just behind him is Williamson Masonry class instructor- Pete Zwolak, gathered around are the hard working senior masonry students, and in the center is your humbled Stone mason instructor for the day, Greg Jehanian. 

Thank you for the opportunity to pass on my knowledge, looking forward to the next time!