U. S. Coast & Geodetic Survey "V-1" Jerry Penry
The location was found as described in the 1947 report, and the adjacent bank building is clearly marked. The bench mark itself, however, is now hidden behind brown tin covering the face of the brick. I am certain it is still there, but would require the removal of the tin to expose it. I did not pursue that since there were screws and caulking sealant holding the tin to the building.
What I find interesting is the fact that USC&GS chose this particular building which is about 1.5 blocks south of the railroad tracks and the depot. The railroad is now gone, but the depot is still standing. I suppose the surveyors might have been given instructions to inquire at the various businesses to see who would allow a hole to be drilled into the face of their building and this owner agreed.
WAKEFIELD, AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF A BRICK BUILDING ALONG
THE WEST SIDE OF MAIN STREET AND WHICH IS NOW OCCUPIED BY ENGELS
ELECTRIC HATCHERY, 111.0 FEET NORTH OF THE NORTH CONCRETE CURB
OF THIRD STREET, (THE THIRD EAST-WEST STREET SOUTH OF THE
CHICAGO, ST. PAUL MINNEAPOLIS AND OMAHA RAILWAY STATION, 3.5
FEET ABOVE THE TOP OF THE CONCRETE WALK, 0.7 FOOT SOUTH OF THE
NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE OLD BRICK BUILDING AND 0.7 FOOT SOUTH
OF THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF A VACANT BANK BUILDING, THE
INTERSECTION OF TWO LINES CUT ON THE END OF A COPPER BOLT LEADED
HORIZONTALLY IN THE EAST FACE OF A BRICK SUPPORT AT THE NORTHEAST
CORNER OF THE BUILDING.
Bench Mark
1900
November 5, 2009
Bench mark "V-1" was established by USC&GS at Wakefield, Nebraska, in the year 1900, during a spur line that was run from Norfolk, Nebraska, to Sioux City, Iowa, to connect with the elevations earlier established by the Missouri River Commission. The monument is a copper bolt set into the brick face of what was then known as Collins clothing store. The last recorded recovery of this bench mark occurred in 1947 which gave further details as to its location on the west side of Main Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets just south of the former bank building. The monument was a copper bolt set into the brick face of the building.
The old bank building still exists. The bench mark was in the brick face of the adjacent building to the south (left) of the bank.
The location of the copper bolt in the brick face of the building.
Tin flashing now hides the brick and the bench mark.
The original Coast & Geodetic Survey description from the year 1900.
Below is the 1947 Recovery Report.
Back to Original USC&GS Bench Marks
© Jerry Penry 2010