On Thu, 14 Mar 2002, John Leeke, Preservation Consultant wrote:

> If you have a camera and a few minutes to spare could you grab a couple of
> photos for me?

Sure!

> Around on the north side of the Old City Hall is the "Mile Number One"
> marker.

This confused me a bit.  I think the marker is actually southeast of the
building.  (Assuming I was reading the street maps right.)  To the north
of the old city hall, across an alley, is the 1903 federal building, now
used for some other purpose.

> Anyway, on the sandstone monolith is a metal plaque with a relief of
> an old Conestoga wagon and oxen.

Further confusion: there is a much larger stone which might better be
called a "sandstone monolith" that is directly east of the building,
assuming I have my directions right.  When I asked about the Mile Number
One marker the night I was there, everyone thought I meant that one.

Approaching the scene during the day on Friday, I found the marker you
actually meant, complete with Conestoga wagon, quite small and close to
the street -- right off the sidwalk at the corner.  I don't think it's
sandstone, either, but I'm embarrassed to say that I don't remember what
it actually was.  It has a compass-like metal cap on the top which
confirms its role as a surveying stone.

> The plaque and relief were sculpted by Keats Lorenz in the 1920s.
> I am doing a study of Keats's life and works as a woodcarver and
> architectural stylist. Last summer I dug up the original drawings for this
> plaque and Keats's nephew gave me a partially-carved wooden piece of the
> same design as on the plaque. Could you take a shot of the marker and a
> close-up of the plaque?

Got it.  (But see below.)

> While you are at the Capitol do notice the amazing Deco-style Senate doors.
> These were designed by Lee Lori and carved by Keats Lorenz out of mahogany
> in the late '20s. Then step out into the rotunda and look up at the carved
> onyx railings. If you have a telephoto or get up to the level of the railing
> could you take a close up shot of it? I need something that shows the range
> of colors in the carved stone work.

No telephoto, no access available to that level, but I did take some
pictures.  Unfortunately, I didn't have a light meter or flash, and I'm
not used to ASA 800 film, so I don't know how well these will come out; I
tried various exposures including wide open at 1/60th.  (And though I made
every effort to prevent this, the film might have gotten fogged by airport
security xrays, another problem with superfast film.)

The color of the balustrades is subtle, pretty much what you might expect
if they were carved from old ivory instead of onyx.

You probably already know this, but the following comes from a Lincoln
guidebook that was supplied in my room at the B&B.  In the South Street
Temple (Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun), at 2055 S. 20th St., built 1923,
"the walnut Ark of the Covenant was carved by Keats Lorenz, who came to
Lincoln in connection with the State Capitol."

Due to other plans which had already been made for me by my hosts, I
didn't get to see the inside of the synagogue on Friday evening.

                                Larry

---
Lawrence Kestenbaum, [log in to unmask]
Washtenaw County Commissioner, 4th District
The Political Graveyard, http://politicalgraveyard.com
Mailing address: P.O. Box 2563, Ann Arbor MI 48106

--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>