Old and New and In-between

Gravel was delivered today to the sidewalk area along the east side.  Some of the gravel was loaded into the crane's bucket.

Gravel and cranes aren't new, but what was new to me was the Jacobsen work-woman directing traffic so the truck could back in.  This delightful lady said there are other women at the site, too.  This is not my father's construction site.

The gravel was lifted into the anterior room of the pavilion.  I think it's for the vapor layer.

Forms are going up for the last section of the pavilion base.

This area of the anterior room will have restrooms for visitors.  The gravel is out of view.  We saw something similar happen in the annex last fall.

While downtown this afternoon, I ran into an expert on the tabernacle.

The original tabernacle had a center steeple and beautiful finials on top of each tower. After the turn of the previous century, the steeple began to sink into the roof.  As the roof sank, it pushed against the top of the brick walls, nudging some of them out a few inches.

The original ceiling was vaulted.  I had to hunt for a picture and this was the best I could find.  The caption asked for help in identifying the event taking place here, but it was before 1917.

Once the steeple was removed in 1917, the roof was rebuilt.  The original finials on the towers were replaced with simple balls. At this time, steel rods were placed  between the north and south walls, running across a new attic, to provide support.

Because of the new rods, the 1917 ceiling could not be vaulted.  This picture came from the banner along the construction barrier.  The rods are above the ceiling going north and south, or left to right in this photo.  I have posted this particular picture before.  I am pretty sure we are seeing pilgrims.

In the 1980s, a major refurbishing of the tabernacle took place and the ceiling was once again redone.  The rods remained in place, although a floor was built in the attic above the rods.  At that time, the balls at the tops of the towers were replaced with finials which more closely resembled the originals.

These were the finials on the towers when the fire destroyed the building in 2010.

The northeast tower is awaiting its finial.

Slate is going up on the northwest tower.  All the finials will be grounded.

My new friend told me some interesting details about the tabernacle windows.  Currently, the windows are plain glass, installed in the tabernacle last fall to keep heat inside for the work-people.

The windows in the original tabernacle were made of frosted glass with many panes per window. In 1917, funds were raised for stained-glass windows.

The windows were not crooked, but the banner on the construction barrier was blowing a little in today's gentle breeze.  The windows opened and closed, a novel idea which served the obvious purpose of keeping heat in or letting air flow through the building. 

During a major renovation in the 1960s, much of the woodwork in the tabernacle was painted white, which at the time must have seemed like a good idea.  During the 1980s restoration, the white paint was removed, exposing the original wood, likely pine.  A faux-grain was painted then added, similar to what is in the Salt Lake Tabernacle.

Air-conditioning was added, and many of the windows were repaired.  This particular window area will be part of a sealing room.  The ceilings in all five sealing rooms will be vaulted.

The beams supporting the center steeple in the new temple also support the roof.  

A lot of the glass from these beautiful windows was recovered after the fire, but none was able to be reused in the new art glass windows.  The new temple windows will not open, either.

A blog reader emailed me this morning to say there was activity at the north gable.  He has good eyes.

I had to look for a long time to see what he was talking about, although I will confess that I am easily distracted.

Finally, my camera spotted two men at the gable.

They are laying brick!

When they get just a little higher, this will be easy to see from the construction cam.

I saw more men working on the brick than I have ever seen before.

Maybe the gorgeous weather brought them out of hiding.

I was also able to see the hydronic system going in at the roof edges. And, no, I didn't make up that word.

Orange tubes will carry hot water in the winter to keep ice and snow from building up.

Copper is involved.

Some of the most beautiful work on this building will ultimately be covered.

Rebar trees continue to grow in the south lot.

Rebar is also going up along the west wall.  

This is what the rebar looks like from the post office lot.  Please don't suggest I start carrying a ladder again.

There is a lot of progress on the north lot planter.

Sometime in the last day or two concrete was poured.

Downtown Provo has a lot of flowers.

But we all know it's hard to beat the flowers on temple grounds.