[MassHistPres] antique fencing

[Dennis De Witt]

As a point of historical interest, locust was so tough and so rot resistant that in the 1950s, in the southern Appalachians where it was plentiful, locust logs were harvested and sold at a premium to state DPWs for highway guardrail posts.  Perhaps they were used for that here too?  I have also seen a rustic arbor whose green-cut, bark-on locust overhead cross pieces continued to sprout for a couple of summers.  

The only thing in that region deemed comparable for rot resistance was American Chestnut, which by 1950 all been killed by the blight, although their massive white skeletons still stood out all along the mountains — gradually being harvested, even after they fell, for desirable wormy chestnut panelling.

Dennis De Witt
Brookline




> On Jul 5, 2017, at 11:03 AM, Roughan, Michael <Michael.Roughan at hdrinc.com> wrote:
> 
> Sally,
>  
> I below to the Eastern Mass Guild of Woodworkers and I asked them to comment. I’ll let you know what responses I get.
> Do you have a photo of the previous fence posts?
>  
> ….Mike
>  
> Michael Roughan, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP
> Chairman - Hopkinton Historical Commission
>  
> Town of Hopkinton
> 18 Main Street
> Hopkinton, MA 01748
> 
> D 617.357.7725 M 617.784.6463
> 
> 
>  
> From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu>] On Behalf Of sally urbano
> Sent: Wednesday, July 5, 2017 10:35 AM
> To: Masshistpres Members <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>>
> Subject: [MassHistPres] antique fencing
>  
> Greetings to everyone.
>          I am on the hunt for a resource to replace an antique  post and board fence. The posts are turned and the top is a  large ,rounded top similar to Dairy Queen cones, not acorns.  Recently vandals destroyed a fence such as this.
> The original was made of locust which  was prevalent on the Cape at one time.  The posts are the problem as apparently they must be hand turned and mahogany is suggested as wood of choice.  The  bid is  without installation and painting and   amounts to $15,000 for 12 posts and two rails. extravagant ? 
> Appreciate any information
> with my thanks
> Sally Urbano
> West Harwich,ma 
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