It's been a while..

I realize that it's been a while since any of us last posted, but we've entered one of the slow times of the renovation process. We are currently waiting to schedule the grouting; hopefully, it will take place in early January. As soon as we have more to report, we will certainly do so. In the meantime, we hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and have a safe and healthy new year.

Into the Void

Apologies for making a blog post almost solely about myself. But today, I went into The Void. At least part of me did. The archaeologists decided that they needed better pictures and better (non-Blair Witch style) video. I immediately volunteered. Unfortunately, the opening is somewhat awkward, so it was nearly impossible to angle myself well enough to take good shots, but the archaeologists were happy. As soon as I get copies of the pictures of the interior that I took, I'll post them. In the meantime, here's what we went through today.



Just to refresh your memory, this is what the entrance to The Void looks like. We did break away two more bricks, just to give me a little more wiggle room.


Me, getting ready to go into the cistern.


Testing the set up and making sure that both the camera and I will fit into the opening.


Me, halfway in the hole, with Peter Middleton sitting on my legs in lieu of a rope.

Front Doors Faux Graining

According to Betsy Greene of Betsy Greene Decorative Painting, the front doors of Lloyd Street Synagogue are probably pine. They would have been originally grained to resemble a more expensive wood like oak. Because of this, the doors are now receiving a makeover to return them to the faux graining they had in the 19th century. Since I've been at the JMM, they have been painted white, so it came as a bit of a shock to see them changed.

The doors first received a base coat of a pale yellow. (see top part of the door)

Next, the doors receive a layer of glaze that is combed to resemble the pore structure of oak. (see bottom part of the door).

The doors are then hand-painted to resemble figure graining. The paint is waterbased oil paint mixed with glazing liquid. The work is combed to break up the lines.



Next is the toning layer. Subtle nuances are given to each board to create variation.

Finally, the doors are clear coated with spar varnish, which protects them from the sun and elements. This is the same kind of varnish used on boats and other outside objects.

The Void is Drained!

Recently, archaeologists at the Lloyd Street Synagogue uncovered a mysterious cistern in the southeast corner of the building. We believe that this may have been the cistern used by the synagogue's mikvah. This video shows the water being drained from it.

Once Upon a Time Photos: 10.31.08

The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 10/31/08

PastPerfect Accession #: 1985.159.032

Status: Identified! Sponsors Dinner to dedicate Study Hall at Talmudical Academy of Baltimore in honor of Governor Theodore R. McKeldin at Governor's Mansion in Annapolis, July 8, 1957. L-R: 1. Paul Huddles 2. Robert Stofberg 3.Rabbi Albert Pattaschnick 4.Judge Edgar Silver 5. Albert A. Sugar 6. Mrs. McKeldin 7. Governor McKeldin 8. Mayor Philip Goodman 9. ? Rosenbaum or Alvin Cohen 10. Solomon Rogers 11. Rabbi Hirsch Heiman

Thanks to Babette Goldschmidt, Selma Frank, Stan Heyman, Mark Rosenfield, Phil Shapiro, Jane Kaufman, Jerry Shavrick, Rina Levy, Judge Edgar Silver, Jerry Esterson, Gloria Kolker Hack, Andrew Cohen, Marian Block, Gordon Salganik, Sheila Manson, Marilyn Silverstein, Rabbi Moses Shevalsky, Edna Hendler, Barbara Ravitz, Carl Kupfer, and Robin I. Cushner

Picture Post

I will wait to speak about the nature of The Void until I have a final (or at least more conclusive) report. However, since we spent significant amount of time in the archaeology pit yesterday, I wanted to go ahead and post pictures.


The crevice that leads into The Void.


Close-up of crevice. Notice that there is 4'+ of water in the bottom of The Void.


Curatorial Assistant Jennifer Vess in the archaeology pit.


Project Manager Lacy LeBlanc in the archaeology pit.


Ceiling and side of The Void.


Brick siding near the top of The Void.


The camera screen that allowed the archaeologists and plumbers to watch the feed from The Void in real time.


Lacy lowering the camera into The Void.


Watching the live feed from the camera.


The pump.


Archaeologist Esther Read widening the hole so that the pump could be lowered into the water.


The pump is in the water.






Almost empty!




The bottom of The Void.

On Friday, John Srygley, Preservation Architect, Esther Read and Peter Middleton, archaeologists, Michael Walkley, P.E., and Charlie Hall and Beth Schminke, representatives from MHT, met to discuss the cistern/void recently discovered under the SE corner of the LSS. Here's what John had to say about the meeting:

"We're not sure at this time what we're looking at, i.e.., a cistern, a dry well, or ?; Esther and Garry [Stone, Architectural Historian] will be sharing their thoughts on this. From the photos the structure appears to be cylindrical, which I measured at 3'-6' in diameter. It is about 8' deep, with four feet of standing water; the walls appear to be dry laid brick. It is unclear how the LSS foundation spans the hole; presumably there is a large stone [lentel]. Note that the photos [see below] are the only visual we have at this time, since the location directly under the foundation does not currently allow enough room to fit one's head down to get a good look!

[...]

Note that the cistern may be the principal cause of the settlement and stresses at this corner, but there are several other suspected influences, and the dramatic subsidence in this area is likely a consequence of the compounded influence of several or all factors including (1) the broken sanitary line dating from @ 1900, (2) the 8" sanitary line installed about 1960, (3) that a portion of the south wall rests on fragments of the brick wall of the mikvah house."

Once we have had a chance to investigate the interior of the cistern, we will discuss the best way to proceed with the grout injection that will stabilize the SE corner of the LSS. Since the cistern appears to be dry-laid, there is a fairly good chance that the pressure grouting which had been planned will not be an option in the area around the cistern. The high pressure aspect of pressure grouting could potentially damage the cistern and the surrounding area, and as with every aspect of this project, we will not proceed until the best options have been determined and agreed upon by our various historic and preservation specialists.


The 1" x 6" hole at the bottom of the pit that led to the discovery of the cistern.






The interior of the cistern - at least as much of it as we can currently see.