| • Rick Dirksen sent an earthquake update to
the “Ringing World” on behalf of WRS. It appeared on the back page of
the September 23rd issue and is included under “Administration” at the
end of this newsletter. Those familiar with the Washington Cathedral
were no doubt saddened to learn of the severe damage caused by the
earthquake that struck the eastern United States on August 23rd.
Washington Cathedral was severely damaged by the earthquake that struck
the eastern US on 23rd August. Cracks appeared in two buttresses on the
apse end. A number of finials and decorative elements across the entire
south side of the building were dislodged and many fell to the ground.
Inside, the quake caused many small pieces of pointing mortar and stone
chips to rain down from the Nave vaulting. Early assessment indicates no
significant disturbance to the structural integrity of the building,
and, most thankfully, no people were injured.
More significant was the impact on the magnificent Gloria in Excelsis
Tower. The Cathedral’s central tower reverberated like a giant tuning
fork: the structure apparently torqued slightly, causing the top 8’ of
one pinnacle to fall, the tops of two other pinnacles to be displaced
dramatically, and many decorative angels and other carvings to fall to
the roof of the tower. The bells and belfry sustained no noticeable
damage, but in the ringing chamber several of the leaden balcony doors
were dislodged from their settings in the limestone framework.
The Cathedral’s first response to the situation was to seal off the
entire perimeter of the building and bring in a 500-ton crane to lift
40’ steel I-beams 300’ in the air, to place on the roof of the central
tower to form the base upon which to erect the scaffoldings needed to
stabilize, evaluate and eventually repair the pinnacles. |
Then, on Wednesday 9/7, for reasons yet unknown, the giant
crane, located at the South Transept, toppled over to the west.
Amazingly, its 500’ boom crashed to earth almost exactly along the South
Roadway, striking a corner of the Herb Cottage gift shop, squashing a
few cars, and missing, by inches, the Diocesan office building. The
lifting arm and other parts of the fallen crane inflicted terrible
damage upon the walls, historic trees and many irreplaceable plantings
in the adjacent Bishop’s Garden.
For ringers, the news is especially sad. Since the bells impart
significant motion into the fabric of the tower, it is likely that they
will not be allowed to swing again until the topmost portions of the
tower have been properly repaired. While is it not yet clear how long
that may take, it is encouraging that the leading structural engineer
and architect, and the Cathedral’s head stone mason, have long been
familiar with the Cathedral’s bells, their impact on the tower, and
their importance to the community. They will certainly do what they can
to get them ringing again as soon as possible. In the meantime, until
able to ring at the Cathedral again, Washington ringers are lucky to be
able to hold the usual Cathedral Tuesday evening practices at the Old
Post Office Tower. In addition, they are working with the ringers in
Frederick, MD to help provide Sunday service ringing there.
Rick Dirksen(see also our pages
The Earthquake 0f 2011 ) |
