U. S. Coast & Geodetic Survey
Bench Mark

"L 1"
1899

Jerry Penry
April 25, 2009

Bench mark "L 1" was established by USC&GS at Madison, Nebraska, in 1899. The monument was a copper bolt set into the brick face of the Madison State Bank building. An effort was made on April 25, 2009, to locate this bench mark. The building was located and two locations were found in the brick where it appears to have had holes patched. A metal detector was run over the two holes, but it did not reveal any copper material. The easterly hole better fits the measurements in the original description and a circle could be seen inscribed in the brick around the patched hole. Just to the east of the hole to the corner of the building a new face has been made on the building over the old brick. Although the bench mark is apparently no longer in existence, an approximate elevation could still likely be obtained by using the hole that fits the description.

The old bank building still exists at the intersection of Third and Main Streets in Madison.

The patched holes that are still visible in the brick. The one on the right appears to be the one where the copper bolt bench mark was once located.

The original description by USC&GS describing the placement of the bench mark.

Back to Original USC&GS Bench Marks

© Jerry Penry 2010