U. S. Coast & Geodetic Survey "R 2" Jerry Penry
I checked on this monument in 2015, and the top several tenths had been completely broken off. On May 20, 2016, I ran a closed three-wire level loop from USC&GS bench mark "C 218" which is located approximately 3/4 mile to the west. I placed a temporary mark on a nearby concrete culvert in order to transfer the elevation on a later date. I also removed the remaining portion of the stone. It came out in two pieces and I estimated the total length to have once been 54". I dug down an extra 0.6' and packed the soil. I then placed 0.4' of concrete in the bottom of the hole and placed a temporary wood box in the hole.
I brought the two pieces to my home 200 miles away and began the restoration work. Both ends were cut off and the top 3" of the top was squared. Using a template made from the photo of another similar bench mark, a dremel tool easily recut the letters. The two pieces were glued together and two angle irons were bolted to the sides. The total weight after restoration is 165 lbs.
On June 17, 2016, I returned to the site, removed the wood box and checked the bottom of the hole for elevation. Above the concrete in the bottom of the hole, I added packed sand until the monument was at the exact NAVD88 elevation. A concrete pad with brass description plate was placed around the stone.
Bench Mark
1901
November 28, 1997
&
June 17, 2016
Located four miles east of Atkinson, Nebraska, I first recovered this stone bench mark along the abandoned C&NW Railroad on November 28, 1997. The level rods used by the USC&GS surveyors at the time it was set in 1901 had a small square metal foot on the bottom. The stone bench marks that they established had a 1 1/4" square hole in the top surface to fit these rods. A modern level rod will not fit down into this hole. Unfortunately, someone had chipped away at the top of Bench Mark "R 2" to get to the bottom of the hole instead of just measuring the depth of the hole and adding that to their rod reading.
The monument as found in 1997.
Close-up view of moss covered Bench Mark "R 2" with defaced top in 1997.
The broken off top as found in 2015.
Removing the top portion of the 54"-long limestone marker.
Both sections out of the ground for the first time in 115 years.
A temporary wooden box filled the void.
The bench mark once it was removed and cleaned.
In the back of the pickup ready for it's 200 mile journey.
Cutting off the irregular bottom surface.
Squaring off the sides after the top was cut off below the break.
In the garage while restoration was taking place.
Checking the top surface.
Lettering the new top.
Cutting in the new letters.
A brass plate made for the restoration project.
The finished top as it appeared in 1901.
Ready for the journey back to it's original home.
A view of the top showing one of the angle irons.
Back in the hole and checking the elevation. The top surface is 0.01' above the square hole elevation.
Checking the top for level after being back in the hole.
Setting the box for the concrete pad.
Foam protects the side of the limestone bench mark from the concrete.
The finished red-dyed concrete pad with brass plate.
With the restored marker back to its original condition and elevation.
Project completed.
Back to Original USC&GS Bench Marks
© Jerry Penry 2016