Madeira Hull Section Display Completed with Grant
By Steve Daniel
The GLSPS received a fourth Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Funds Grant in the amount of $1670 to add the Madeira Hull Section to the Bitts Display at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. The GLSPS sincerely appreciated the help of Thom Holden, retired director of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center in Duluth and Jerry Sandvick, retired UMD professor emeritus and current president of the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association. Both gentleman wrote supportive documentation to help the GLSPS acquire the grant.
The Madeira Hull Section was donated to the GLSPS by Mrs. Sharron Sheppard as part of the Put-It-Back program in 2009. The GLSPS appreciates her generosity in helping make this historic part of the Madeira shipwreck available for continued public viewing.
A small team of GLSPS volunteers, along with some professional service providers, was lead by Steve Daniel, the GLSPS project director. Steve worked with Ms. Audrey Butts, DNR manager of Split Rock lighthouse State Park and Gooseberry Falls State Park, to position the Hull Section near the Madeira Bitts display that had been created by the GLSPS with another grant earlier. Lee Radzak, manager of the Split Rock Lighthouse Historic Site, generously allowed the GLSPS to store the large metal artifact at the service area until the new site was ready.
GLSPS member Al Fossum designed and built the 5 foot by 5 foot concrete base to support the heavy metal artifact. This was completed in July 2013. In early August, Steve cleaned the Hull Section and applied two coatings of preservative to the metal. Steve contacted Brad Anderson, of Findland, Minnesota, to bring his heavy construction equipment to move the Hull Section from the Split Rock Lighthouse service area to the new base by the Divers parking lot up the road. This was completed August 22, 2014. GLSPS member Jay Hanson met with Steve at the new display to recommend attachment methods to secure the large heavy metal artifact to the base.
Madeira Hull section complements Bitts display
at the Divers parking lot in Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.
While these portions of the project were in progress, a small sign to identify the artifact and its relationship to the Bitts display and shipwreck, was created by Gary Grindle, a graphics designer.
On behalf of the GLSPS, Gary arranged for the fabrication of the sign by KVO Industries in California.
This company produces durable signage for the MHS and DNR for historical sites and state parks.
The MHS Exhibit Group generously donated a sign frame to hold the new sign.
The completed sign and frame were installed October 29, 2013, with the help of Collin Wright, DNR ranger at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.
This completed the project.
Collin Wright, DNR and Steve Daniel, GLSPS
celebrates completion of new Madeira Hull Section
The GLSPS sincerely appreciates the help provided by GLSPS members, professionals, the DNR and the MHS who helped create the Madeira Hull Section display. The display was also made possible by the donor and a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grant from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008. These grants are administered by the Minnesota Historical Society.
Steve Daniel
PIB Chairman
GLSPS Board of Director