Email #28 - More Sleeper Archeology

The sleeper story continues, as you can see in the top detail photo.

Part of the 2nd floor was excavated back to the original 1909 concrete slab, leaving adjacent sleeper boards exposed and revealing the depth of the sleeper/grout layer, about 2.5 inches. Note the grout beneath the boards as well.

The context for the detail photo is seen in the bottom photo where a yellow X marks the spot of the detail. The reason they demo'ed this portion of the floor is that is was covered with another concrete slab, very similar to that T-bone slab you see along the central axis of the building. New sleepers will be installed in the excavated part so the new plywood subfloor can be nailed down. The concrete slab was in the way.

What's up with that T-bone concrete slab? I doubt that it's 1909 original because it covers up 3 of the breather wall holes on each wing. Looking up the breather wall holes from the floor below, you can see the "modern" sheet metal decking upon which the slabs were poured.

Was this done in the 1980's renovation? More digging needs be done...

John Stamets
Sept. 17, 2006

See also #23 and #26