Featured Project: Public Art
Graff Memorial
Conservation 2005-2006
Fairmount Park Waterworks South Garden
The Graff Memorial was erected in the South Garden of the Fairmount Waterworks in 1848 by the City Council of Philadlephia. Through the years the marble monument fell into disrepair: all eight pinnacles were missing, the memorial was covered in ivy and bio-growth, the iron fence was corroded and had sections missing, and the remaining marble was in severely deteriorated condition. The Trust completed a conservation plan and performed all conservation work on the monument. Marble pinnacles were re-carved based on historic images. Cleaning and paint removal tests were completed and the results were implemented. Paint was removed from the underside of the monument and biological growth was cleaned from all marble elements. The wrought iron fence was documented, deconstructed, missing elements were recast and the fence was re-installed. Finally, the new pinnacles and the conserved bust of Frederick Graff were installed. The Trust collaborated with Mark B. Thompson Associates on the landscape, lighting and path elements of the restoration.
