Debunking Myths & Bad Analogies Part 2

CHAUTAUQUA’S NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT PLAQUE

THE AMPHITHEATER IS NOT A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK!

I wanted everyone to be absolutely clear about that. Even some of the press has gotten it wrong. Chautauqua put the plaque for the Historic District on the Amp because it has the highest visibility. The Historic District, as a whole, and the Lewis Miller Cottage are the only two National Historic Landmarks listed in the National Register. The Amp is listed as 1 of 40 contributing public buildings included in Chautauqua’s Historic District in the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places Registration Form dated February, 14, 1989 (link here). There are 645 contributing buildings (all the practice shacks counted as 1), plus Bestor Plaza, and Palestine Park, in the 207 acre Historic District. There were, at the time, 4 buildings noted as being non-contributing. So once again if your keeping score at home, it’s 647-4. Over 600 of the contributing buildings are individually owned private cottages, and the the vast majority of them aren’t going anywhere.

Notably included in the Public Buildings are the St. Elmo and the Arcade. Of the St. Elmo, it is incorrectly noted on the registration form that it “was built in 1890 and the hotel was at one time the center of winter activities, but is now no longer open during that season. It has recently been converted into apartment condominiums” (you just can’t use them in the winter?). Of course the entire structure was demolished and a brand new reasonable facsimile was built in its place, because the old one was in such bad shape. It was less expensive and more efficient to build brand new, than go through an extensive rehab. As for the Arcade, that is incorrectly described as having shops on the first floor and dorms upstairs. It had already been re-purposed as condominiums with the exterior remaining largely intact/rehabbed to maintain its original look. So the new St. Elmo, a somewhat reasonable facsimile of the original building, contributes, and the condo versions of the other re-purposed dorms and boarding houses contribute, but a new, better, replica of the Amp doesn’t? Curious indeed. Oh, and noticeably absent are the 1916 version of the Pier Building (a.k.a. the College Club) and the Refectory.

Hall Of Philosophy (L) & Norton Hall (R)

 

The Lewis Miller Cottage – National Historic Landmark

The following language is from the NPS Registration form (link above) for Chautauqua Institution that further describes the architectural and historical significance of Chautauqua’s over 600 cottages, which is what counts the most in Chautauqua’s National Historic Landmark District designation:

The 19th century was a period of great architectural vitality in America — especially as expressed in the vernacular structures designed and built by anonymous carpenter-craftsmen. Set in the woods and constructed rather closely together, the cottages at Chautauqua represent a wide variety of styles from about 1870 though the 1920’s. As summer residences, these cottages are distinguished by several characteristics. Primarily wood frame in construction, they are sheathed in clapboard or shingles and covered by gable roofs. Most noticeable are the ubiquitous front porches with wicker rocking chairs, a kind of living-room extension which is very American in concept. There are also a number of buildings in Chautauqua that have porches on their second, third and fourth floor levels.

Also seen in abundance is board-and-batten construction. This system employs weatherboards mounted on the framing or studs with the cracks between them filled with milled strips (battens). Andrew Jackson Downing wrote: We greatly prefer the vertical to the horizontal boarding, not only because it is more durable, but because it has an expression of strength and truthfulness which the other has not. The main timbers which enter into the frame of a wooden house are vertical, and hence the vertical boarding properly signifies to the eye a wooden house. Chautauqua has a large number of such “truthful” houses. There is also an abundance of wooden ornament, or “gingerbread,” along the edges of the gables ~ they were called verge or barge boards because they were on the incline or “verge” of the gables to protect the roof timbers from the weather.

As a showcase of late Victorian architecture, Chautauqua is filled with the “eclectic” styles so fancied by Americans. Most of the cottages were designed and built by individual carpenter-builders. Using text books and trade journals, they improvised freely on what they thought were traditional designs, often producing hybrids that combined several styles — Gothic, Romanesque, Italianate and Second Empire. These romantic statements were an architectural vernacular — the “Picturesque” style Americans thought to be the height of fashion. Originating from simple plans — often with extension platforms to hold canvas tents for large families — they are, taken as a whole within the historic district, a magnificent collection of structures embellished with ornament or “wood lace.” The village, with its controlled vehicular traffic and tree-lined brick walkways, contributes to the tirelessness and serenity of the community.

Karslake (L) & Follansbee (R) Cottages

Historic Integrity of a District

The following language in italics is from the NPS website on the Historic Integrity of a District with my comments in bold below:

http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb15/nrb15_8.htm

For a district to retain integrity as a whole, the majority of the components that make up the district’s historic character must possess integrity even if they are individually undistinguished. In addition, the relationships among the district’s components must be substantially unchanged since the period of significance.

The overwhelming majority of the contributing components (cottages and public buildings) haven’t changed in over 100 years and many are in fact, individually distinguished. Therefore they still possess their Historic Integrity. And their relationships are doing just fine, thanks for asking.

When evaluating the impact of intrusions upon the district’s integrity, take into consideration the relative number, size, scale, design, and location of the components that do not contribute to the significance. A district is not eligible if it contains so many alterations or new intrusions that it no longer conveys the sense of a historic environment.

Chautauqua’s intrusions/alterations which are primarily new theaters, an archives building, a guest and denominational house, and some new private homes, do not threaten the “sense of its historic environment”. Many of the new structures are similar in size, scale, and design. A brand new version of the Amp, also intentionally similar in size, scale, design, and location, shouldn’t pose much of a threat either, in the grand scheme of the 207 acre, 645 building Historic District as a whole.

Editors Note: One of the committee members homes is a non contributing intrusion to the Historic District.

A component of a district cannot contribute to the significance if:

• it has been substantially altered since the period of the district’s significance or
• it does not share the historic associations of the district.

Ok, so technically a New Amp, no matter how similar cannot contribute to the historic significance. But we all know it will contribute to Chautauqua in so many other ways for years to come. If you’re still keeping score at home, even with the newer intrusions/alterations there are still over 600 of the original 645 public and private buildings that contribute to the Historic District.

Old & New Back Entrance (Closest to the Athenaeum)

WARNING: Reckless & Superficial Alert!

The following language could be considered as reckless and superficial, but it’s “my opinion” and the Historic Integrity of the First Amendment allows for just that. Please proceed at your own risk.

It doesn’t matter if the New Amp contributes to the Historic District or not. They could beam the current one to the moon and it wouldn’t matter either. It’s just one of 645 contributing structures. From the NPS website re: Historic Integrity. “For a district to retain (historic) integrity as a whole, the majority of (Chautauqua’s) components must still contribute.” Take out the Elmo, the Arcade, the Amp, and a handful of other re-purposed boarding houses, some new public buildings and private homes, and the overwhelming majority still contribute.  It is my opinion that Chautauqua is not in any danger of losing its National Historic Landmark District Status because they rebuild the Amp. It’s not like we’ve reached a tipping point, as all these Victorian cottages are getting knocked down in favor of some of the “less truthful” condos that sprang up in the 80’s that most likely aren’t contributing much either.  There are 16 Historic Districts in NY State plus a handful that are Parks or Archaeological in nature. Chautauqua’s is the 2nd largest in total contributing structures behind the Hudson River Heritage District (1,869) and well ahead of the Soho District (479). Chautauqua comes in 3rd in total land area (acres) behind the Hudson River and Geneseo Historic District (600). Since they started the National Historic Landmark program in the mid 60’s only 35 properties across the Nation have been removed from the list and none of those were Historic Districts. They were mostly single property commercial and residential uses along with one stadium (old Soldier Field in Chicago), a couple of churches, and four ships including a WWII Aircraft Carrier that was scrapped and a Mine Sweeper that sank in the Mississippi River in 1993.

“As a showcase of late Victorian architecture, Chautauqua is filled with... (and) they are, taken as a whole within the historic district, a magnificent collection of structures ” – The NPS Registration Form 2/14/1989

So even with a New Amp Chautauqua’s National Historic Landmark District designation should be safe for generations to come. That is, unless of course, all the buildings and cottages below the Plaza fall down the hill and into the lake and have to be rebuilt. At that point, all bets are off.

Debunking Myths & Bad Analogies Part 1

Wrigley Field

“The last time the Cubs won the World Series was 1908. The last time they were in one was 1945. Hey, any team can have a bad century.” —Tom Trebelhorn Chicago Cubs – Former Manager

One of the committee members has, in his attempt to save the Amp, often used comparisons to various historic venues to make his preservationist points. He claims the sense of history and place is the primary factor in people attending Cubs games at Wrigley Field, and why Chautauquans keep coming back to the Amp. I’m glad this came up in an interview in one of the articles against the New Amp project because it’s so far off base as a comparison that I’m picking it off.

The “friendly confines” of Wrigley Field as Mr. Cub, Hall of Fame shortstop Ernie Banks dubbed it, is more famous for its landscaping, wind-blown home runs and a beloved, bespectacled announcer who could nary carry a tune, than for anything that occurred between the lines. Built in 1914 the Cubbies haven’t won a World Series since they moved in. Maybe they should consider knocking the place down and starting over to change their luck. Just kidding, as I’m sure the curse of the Billy Goat will stubbornly follow them wherever they go.

The Cubs are the attraction for better or mostly worse over the years. Wrigley Field is the venue for the 81 programs put on by the Chicago Cubs and owner Thomas Ricketts for over two millions fans each and every season. If the Cubs moved out of Wrigley into a brand new version…say TD Ameritrade Park, they would still draw over two million fans a year to the ballpark and the majority would continue to sing off key during every 7^th inning stretch. While an unoccupied Wrigley Field wouldn’t draw enough patrons to even cover its operating costs as a re-purposed Museum/Dog Park. Just like Chautauqua, the program, in Chicago’s case the Cubs, are the destination, no matter the age of the venue.

Old Amp & New Amp

Ok just for a moment I need you to imagine that we’ve had a summer of civil, engaged  discourse and the overwhelming majority of Chautauquans have cast their metaphorical ballots in favor of rebuilding the Amp. So how would you celebrate the Old Girl and what kind of send off should Chautauqua give her on the final nights/days of the 2015 Season. Humor me a little more and pretend you could invite back one of the most accomplished and respected people to ever perform there to play one last time and to give one final speech. Maybe this is how it would go.

Then one performer stood at the podium of  Chautauqua’s Amphitheater and the Assembly gathered around him. He held a microphone, and as he called for attention, the Assembly who had filled the Amp with cheers all night stood quietly to listen as he spoke.

“For all of us here, it’s a huge honor to come out here and play and every member of this organization, past and present, has been calling this place home for 123 years. There’s a lot of tradition, a lot of history, and a lot of memories. Now the great thing about memories is you’re able to pass it along from generation to generation. And although things are going to change next year… there are a few things that never change – it’s pride, it’s tradition, and most of all, we have the greatest Assembly in the world. We’re relying on you to take the memories from this Amp and add them to the new memories that come to the New Amp, and continue to pass them on from generation to generation. On behalf of Chautauqua, we want to take this moment to salute you, the greatest Assembly in the world.”

Once again I have taken liberty with words spoken/written by someone else. The speech I adaptively reused above was given by New York Yankee captain Derek Jeter from the pitchers mound at Yankee Stadium as the Yanks had just finished their final game in 85 year old Yankee Stadium on Sept 21, 2008. I changed Yankee Stadium to the Amp, pitchers mound to podium, and fans to Assembly.

The United States Army Field Band performed the national anthem before the game and during the day long celebration of “The Stadium” Yankees Manger Joe Girardi said:

“The great thing about being part of this and being in New York is that people understand what this is about. They understand the history of this stadium. What this building has meant to the city, to baseball and all the other events that happened here — NFL championships, college football, boxing matches, papal visits. This has been a big part of our history, not just of baseball, but of our country. I think there’s a lot of thought that goes into it, because you want to feel that you did it the right way, and the way that honors the organization and the stadium the most.”

They opened the new Yankee Stadium the following season, built as a reasonable facsimile to evoke memories of, and honor the original. Here is a link to the MLB.com Yankees page that features their heartfelt and first class farewell to Yankee Stadium:

http://mlb.mlb.com/nyy/ballpark/farewell.jsp

Yankee Stadium (“The House that Ruth Built”) & The New Yankee Stadium

If the damn Yankees can knock down “The House that Ruth Built” where they won a ridiculous 26 World Series Championships over its 85 year history, and replace it with a brand new Yankee Stadium, then Chautauqua can certainly do the same thing with it’s 122 year old Amphitheater. This comparison is much more valid on so many levels. Yankee Stadium was the most famous Stadium in America that opened for the 1923 season and at the time; it was hailed as a one-of-a-kind facility in the country for its size, which made it the first ball park to be called a stadium. With the 1908 addition of the Massey Organ to Chautauqua’s 2nd Amphitheater it still holds the distinction of having the country’s largest outdoor organ.

The construction contract was awarded to New York’s White Construction Co. on May 5, 1922 with the edict that the job must be completed “at a definite price” ($2.5-million) and by Opening Day 1923. Incredibly, it was. In only 284 working days, Yankee Stadium was ready for its inaugural game on April 18, 1923 vs. the Boston Red Sox. The stadium’s walls were built of an extremely durable concrete that was developed and patented by Thomas Edison. Here we go again, but if they can build the original Yankee Stadium in less than a year Chautauqua can certainly build an open air Amphitheater in 10 months channeling their inner Thomas Edison on the concrete pouring for the bowl next spring. For the “definite price” of $30 Million the GC is properly motivated to finish before the 2016 Season Opens and it will show in their work.

Over the course of its history, Yankee Stadium had hosted a variety of events, historic moments and famous players. Most of these moments were baseball-related—including 33 Word Series, more Hall of Fame players than any other team, numerous no hitters and the first and only World Series perfect game. The stadium also hosted thirty championship boxing matches, concerts, conventions, three Papal Masses and was even featured in a few Seinfeld episodes and numerous movies. The Captains speech was the last but most diehard baseball fans can remember the echoing voice of Lou Gehrig’s last speech there, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth…”

“The Stadium” (a.k.a The Cathedral & The Bronx Zoo) went through many alterations over the years. The condition of the facility worsened in the 1960s and 1970s, prompting its closing for renovation from 1974 to 1975. On August 8, 1972, after years of debate about the future of the aging ballpark, the Yankees signed a 30-year lease with the City of New York which called for Yankee Stadium to be completely modernized in time for the 1976 season. After completing the Stadium’s 50th-Anniversary season in 1973, the Yankees moved in with the Mets at Shea Stadium for two seasons while their home was almost completely demolished and then rebuilt. The renovation significantly altered the appearance of the venue and reduced the number of columns while adding escalators, and making it safer. And to a point I made in an earlier post, they lost two (2) seasons weaving together the old and the new during their remodeling, yet they built it from scratch in less than 12 months, from May 1922 – April 1923.

Ok I trust this is sounding familiar once again. Our beloved Amp has gone thru much of the same; all the historic moments and famous people who have graced the place and the many alterations and reconfigurations to adapt to the times or just keep pace with the aging process of a predominately wooden structure that has seen 122 Chautauqua winters. What the Yankees did in the mid 70’s was akin to the $2 Million Chautauqua put into the Amp in the early 80’s (new roof, new benches, new backstage, structural reinforcements, lighting and sound booth, etc.).

Original Yankee Stadium Frieze (L) & New Yankee Stadium Frieze (R)

In 2006, the Yankees began building a new $2.3 billion Yankee Stadium right next door. The new stadium includes a replica of the most architecturally significant element, the iconic frieze along the roof that was in the original Yankee Stadium. The most historically significant piece, Monument Park which features the Yankees’ retired numbers, as well as monuments and plaques dedicated to distinguished Yankees, has been moved to its new location beyond the center field fences at the new Stadium. Chautauqua is planning on preserving the historically significant Massey organ and more prominently displaying it in the New Amp and building a pretty reasonable facsimile of the other architectural elements that we have come to know and love in their simplicity while providing a much better environment for all those who assemble, perform, speak and work there. Chautauqua’s  Monument Park is the 701 Memorial Bricks and 211 Plaques that will be adaptively reused/placed in the New Amp.

Chautauqua’s Memorial Bricks & Plaques

The Babe, the Iron Horse, Joltin Joe, and the Mick are long since gone, as is “The (old) Stadium”. Bernie, Mo, and the Captain retired, but “The Show” (baseball slang – minor league players hope to be promoted to the majors a.k.a. “The Show”) must and will go on for this and every season, and for generations of Yankee fans to come. The Stadium evolved over time but eventually it was time to rebuild a new one. Don’t future generations of Chautauquans deserve the same?

Willie Randolph – Former Yankee 2nd Baseman and Coach on the final night in The Stadium and the New Yankee Stadium being finished just a Ruthian home run away.

“To be back here is always special. To walk through those gates, I am going to miss the old place, man. But it’s time to move on.”

Current and New Amp

 It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much.

Yogi Berra

 

 

 

Aprils Fools & Structural vs Historic Integrity

 F.D.R’s I Hate War Speech – Chautauqua Amphitheater

“There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Chautauquans has a rendezvous with destiny.” Franklin D. Roosevelt Editors Note: April Fools – Ok I changed Americans to Chautauquans, to suit my purposes.

Dirk Schneider of CJS Architects photo bombs the committee’s power point presentation, Photo by Derek Gee/Buffalo News

Well here we are, and after all the anticipation we have finally seen the Save the Amp Rehab Presentation, courtesy of the committee and CJS Architects (along with some one sided and ill informed editorial by the Buffalo News). A (para) phrase comes immediately to my thought provoked mind. Anticipation is often times the greater joy. I have to believe the committee, and more importantly many of their petitioners, must be having similar feelings (although the myopic majority may never admit it). OK before I go on, I want to note that I have not used my imaginary friend George (and the anonymity he provides) to attack, accuse, or belittle anyone. Yes there was some lighthearted poking fun (you know who you are), but for the most part I have merely stated my pro New Amp opinions and have, as a result, been on the receiving end of some mean spirited attacks. I guess that is par for the course I’m playing. That being said, I took more than a week to engage in what Dan Ariely in The Upside of Irrationality, calls a “Civility Check.” A pause to evaluate and further consider something you’re writing and the effect hitting the send/publish/comment button, may have on others in this digital age we all live in. My Chautauqua Grandma put it in no uncertain terms, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

Sorry Grandma! That being said I proceed with any/all due respect. I read the April 1 article in the Buffalo News (once I got past the rather strange selfie like pic at the top), and downloaded and studied the 34 page power point presentation by the committee and CJS. My first impression (and I’m not kidding) was that the Chautauqua Parody people had hacked into the committee’s Facebook and Web pages. Seriously, I backed out and went back in, wondering if it was an April Fools joke. Sadly I’m now sure it wasn’t (meant to be). But that ball is teed up very nicely, so I need to take a well intentioned swing at it. Let’s have a look at the power point presentation from CJS and the committee. They have thrown in all the Preservation buzz words, and reiterated the stated goals and their ill fated attempt to resolve the issues, while hitting more than a few out of bounds and into the woods. And on the most important point of all they couldn’t even get off the tee without taking a stroke for shanking one off the ball washer. The committee’s thought provoking points are bold and in italics, with my provocative comments below:

The architectural history of the Amp was the second most important feature in defining the overall Amphitheater experience.

Frankly if “architectural” was deleted leaving “the history of the Amp”, you would have gotten the exact same responses. Bead-board ceiling and bridge style trusses are not architecturally significant. The incredible history that happened in that space is historically, not architecturally significant.

Strategic, surgical interventions in the front of the house

See my response to more surgery in the Structural Integrity section below.

Preserve essential spatial relationships: the shape/depth of the bowl, the location of the stage & choir, the organ loft

The new Amp gives us most of the same “spatial relationships”, only better. What they have accurately pointed out is they are essentially doing nothing to the above.

Differentiate new features from existing, with compatible design treatment

I’ve read this 10 times and I’m still not sure what it means to differentiate the new, compatibly?

Preserve the Heritage of the Campus

Oh, by the way many Chautauquans don’t like the term campus, despite the educational history of the Assembly. They probably meant to say Historic District, or possibly Grounds. Let’s be clear, we are still talking about the Amp aren’t we? Or are they now preserving something else while they’re at it?

Re-integrate the Amp into its site context

Did the Amp get bused somewhere? Why does she have to be re-integrated, and what happened to her site context?

Expanded & temporary seating (L & R) – Improve weather protection & number of covered seats (C)

Here’s where the April Fools thing really hit me. Collapsible soccer field bleachers and retractable aluminum awnings. Seriously… I don’t even know what to say except…Really? Thankfully a picture is, as they say, worth a thousand words. They suggest we clad the aluminum awning above in wood. Oh I get it now, that’s what they mean by differentiating the new compatibly.

Elegant Grassy West Side Knoll (L) & New CJS Bleachers Drawing(R)

So they take away the existing bleachers, replacing them with collapsible ones, but then turn around and add two sections of fixed bleachers on the corners. Did anyone notice the proposed new NW section of bleachers would block the view of the stage from the primary entrance. This of course begs the question – what have they done with the 701 Memorial Bricks on the back of the current bleachers? Oh and…that Plaque…you know, uh the Historic District thingy. Where the heck are they trying to put that grassy knoll and why is it elegant? There’s a red brick walk to the immediate west of the Amp that has some historical significance of its own.

Improve sight lines – Add Monitors

By this time, I’m laughing out loud. Really, really loved this one. Uh yeah, no, seriously I lingered there for a bit…because I was looking to see if they added cup-holders to the backs of the benches. They just made the Amp look like a giant Sports Bar. They could put the wait staff from the “A” in Green smocks (like they used to wear at the gate), to serve refreshments. Someone has some splaining to do because I need to understand how this picture is in the same conversation as Historic anything. Just sayin.

Improve Ramp Safety – CJS Wooden Steps & Steel Railings Drawing

Wooden steps over the existing concrete ramps and anchoring metal rails to that? Just adding more wood to a really old, predominantly wooden structure that needs constant maintenance and repair. The steps are inconsistent, with the mini steps in between…awkward!

Back of the House – Introduce Freight/Passenger Elevator & Connect to Perry’s Bridge

First and foremost, for Perry’s sake it’s PETER’S BRIDGE. I emailed that correction to the more congenial of the two reporters from the Buffalo News and he made the change in his online article but I see the committee still hasn’t edited their slide. That gives us some insight about the attention to detail we can expect in the rest of their thought provoking design ideas process. And for Peter’s sake, last I checked CJS is an architecture firm. Are we to assume this is the best they could do with a thought provoking idea for the back porch(s)? Well they did comment that it would be less boxy than Chautauqua’s version.

CJS’s proposed two level back porch (L) and Chautauqua’s Back of the Amp (R)

Peters Bridge 1980 Redux (L) & Loading Dock (R)

So tell me, how do you introduce a freight elevator? Well I do know that before you get to meet the elevator, you first have to make the acquaintance of the loading dock. They propose via a rudimentary block plan sketch that the loading dock and part of the back of the Amp should be under the bridge. Loading docks start at 4′ in height at the very bottom of the overhead door. Once again call me reckless and superficial, but there is no way that fits under what’s his names bridge.

CJS Architects and the committee’s Presentation – Take Away (Please Take it Away)

“We appreciate your patience as CJS collected input and received feedback from national and local historic restoration architects and preservation experts. Let’s be clear what CJS’s work represents…CJS could still produce initial design ideas and concepts for the Amphitheater to enable us to have a productive discussion directly with the Institution, their design team and the community.” – April 1 Newsletter from the savetheamp.org website.

Yes please, let’s be absolutely clear.  The presentation represents a “Mary Poppins – practically perfect in every way” example of an April Fools Joke! Now who’s drawing up plans on the back of a napkin? When the Board tabled the Amp vote in February the committee indicated that they also postponed their release of CJS’s work to enable them to get additional input and feedback from historic restoration architects and preservation experts. They had four (4) months to put that together and THAT’S ALL the thought provoking design ideas they could come up with in their underwhelming presentation. The vast majority of the architects I’ve worked with want to put their own stamp on the project by adding something unique to the design. CJS preserves/replaces everything else and the back of the Amp was their chance to get creative. It is potentially the most rewarding part of their Rehab project (from a designers perspective), and all we get is a crude block plan and a picture of a two level Chautauqua porch as an example. They didn’t even take a shot at a “thought provoking design idea”. Nada, Zilch, they just blew it completely off. I have sometimes referred to architects as “artichokes” because I had to choke them to get them to STOP designing. These guys just plain choked. That speaks volumes to me and now I’ll give you my thought provoking idea on their lack of effort. Sorry Dirk (and Grandma), but the committee put you in a bad place as an unpaid adviser. A tenuous position at best, but at worst, we now see what can happen without the proper motivation. They produce very little in drawings/original ideas. I encourage you to click this link to see the original version of their presentation to see for yourself. CJS, as an unpaid adviser with no real chance of getting any of the work, put into it, approximately what they expect to get out of it (not too much). And who can blame them, they have a business to run, not a vendetta. As Grandma said “You get what you pay for.” And on that note what is all this surgery going to cost? One particularly cranky writer says “for a fraction of the cost”, one says “one third to one half”, and the committees words are “potentially reducing the Institution’s estimated $30 million cost in the process.” Potentially…? And both articles talk of over 10,000 signatures on the petitions. The savetheamp.org petition has just 2,300+ signatures despite incredible exposure. Just the facts, please.

Moving On – I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again, but in more detail. It’s the Old Girl’s Structural Integrity, not preserving her Historic Integrity, that concerns me. The committees recommended surgical interventions clanged off the ball washer.

Structural vs Historic Integrity

March 2015 – Amp Pillar Failure (L), & Crane Supporting Roof

1983 Crane Supporting Roof (L), 2003 Amp Entrance Gate Failure (R)

  Structural integrity: Is the ability of an item to hold together under a load, including its own weight, resisting breakage or bending. It assures that the construction will perform its designed function, during reasonable use, for as long as the designed life of the structure. Items are constructed with structural integrity to ensure that catastrophic failure does not occur. Types of failure: Failure of a structure can occur from many types of problems. Most of these problems are unique to the type of structure but most can be traced to one of five main causes. Below are two that apply to the current Amp.

• The first, whether due to age, size, shape, or the choice of material, is that the structure is not strong enough to support the load in which case catastrophic failure can occur when the overstressed construction reaches a critical stress level.
• The second is instability (see out of Plum below), whether due to asymmetrical stress introduced on members, geometry, design or material choice, causing the structure to fail from fatigue or corrosion. These types of failure often occur at stress points, causing cracks to slowly form and then progress through cyclic loading. Failure generally occurs when the cracks reach a critical length, causing breakage to happen suddenly under normal loading conditions.

Plum: Is defined as true to a vertical plane. A correctly plumbed object, such as a support column, takes maximum advantage of gravity, transferring loads directly through the structure to the ground. This is called the “load path” and it’s where most of the forces are concentrated.

CJS Architects did some inspecting and field measuring of the Amp, and tells us the structural steel columns are not plum. In other words they have, over time, started leaning a little off their true vertical plane, thus causing the loads to be unevenly distributed in a 122 year old structure. Their remedy is to repair or replace the existing steel columns attached to all the other structural band aids and splints this Amp has had applied over the years. She is slowly falling down!

“Depending on existing conditions of connection, existing steel columns might need to be replaced in kind due to asymmetrical stress introduced on members” – CJS Architects, Upgrading the Chautauqua Amphitheater: A Rehabilitation Approach

I wrote in my Amp Redux v. 3.0 post that she (The Amp) has long since outlived her day (the designed life of the structure) and is straining at her (asymmetrical stressed) seams. A life span greatly extended by some tender loving care, numerous operations, and yes, even an organ transplant. The save the amp rehab plan calls for “strategic surgical interventions” in the front of the house, while partially replacing the back of the Amp. Hasn’t she already had enough operations? Her old bones just can’t take anymore surgeries and a hip transplant.

CJS Column Replace Drawing (L), & Amp Column Welding Repair 1980 (R)

 I wrote this in my first post, Amp Redux v. 3.0 and it’s even more appropriate now, so I reiterate (with the the Committee’s answers): For those fixated on saving the existing roof…that is simply not the best answer. Do you (the committee) take your preservation in layers (yes)? Perhaps a patchwork time capsule quilt approach (definitely), weaving together the old (part of the backstage), the really old (the roof structure and supporting columns), and the new (part of the back stage, more bleachers, and some replaced columns). But lets not kid ourselves, that quilt is only as strong as its weakest “historic fabric” (a.k.a the existing out of plumb, steel columns attached to the asymmetrically stressed support structure in the roof). Do you really want your kids, grand kids, and grandparents walking around under a couple of tons of audio visual equipment suspended from (leaning) steel (repaired/replaced) beams that were first riveted and welded over 120 Chautauqua winters ago (yes, that is the rehab plan). The preservationists in their religious zeal keep whining about the “Historic Integrity” of the old girl. I for one, am more worried about her Structural Integrity (and now the Plumb Bob has me even more worried).   Historic Integrity – From the National Park Service Website:

http://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb15/nrb15_8.htm

“Ultimately, the question of integrity is answered by whether or not the property retains the identity for which it is significant”

OK, there you have it, we’re done here. Check please! The Amp, whether the current one or the New Amp retains the identity for which it is significant. It’s the Amp, anyone can see that. OK, just fooling again, as I have taken liberty with the words and used them out of context. But it is transparently true that the New Amp will retain the identity for which it is significant.

So now, let’s have a look at the National Parks Service definitions of the:

Seven Aspects of Historic Integrity Compared to the Proposed New Amp in Italics.

1 – Location: Is the place where the historic property was constructed or the place where the historic event occurred. Well that’s certainly a gimme! They aren’t moving it out behind the golf course. If Amelia flew in and landed on the 14th fairway (Lakeside) again, she’d know right where to go.

2 – Design: Is the combination of elements that create the form, plan, space, structure, and style of a property. The front of the house is practically the same. The back is larger but looks a lot more like the 1908 (post Massey Organ) version than the current, or the committee’s version. And the structure will be a quantum leap forward.

3 – Setting: Is the physical environment of a historic property. OK, another tap in putt. Nothing changes about the setting.

4 – Materials: Are the physical elements that were combined or deposited during a particular period of time and in a particular pattern or configuration to form a historic property. Only the bead-board ceiling, the out of plum, leaning structural beams, and asymmetrically stressed structural support system in the roof are original, I think we should get a mulligan on this one.

5 – Workmanship: Is the physical evidence of the crafts of a particular culture or people during any given period in history or prehistory. The original physical evidence of the crafts are asymmetrically stressed/long since gone. Except of course for the bridge style trusses, which will be replicated, and the bead-board ceiling (stay tuned, I have an adaptive reuse plan for that).

6 – Feeling: Is the quality that a historic property has in evoking the aesthetic or historic sense of a past period of time. The New Amp will aesthetically, feel and look just like the current one.  If you have accessibility issues, sit on the benches, work/speak/perform there, it will feel much better. The view to history in the making will be better and that timeline remains unbroken.

7 – Association: Is the direct link between an important historic event or person and a historic property. See Ms. Earhart above. See also F.D.R., R.F.K., Susan B., Booker T., ET AL. It’s an open air auditorium, that was left open when they rebuilt it last time, because it started out as a platform in a park that was open to the rest of the universe. It’s not the structure, but the place in history.

Well given a mulligan and a favorable drop I’d say the proposed New Amp comes in at, or just over par on Historic Integrity. There is a pretty good reason that previous Chautauqua Administrations never registered the Amp in the National Register of Historic Places, and it’s not the filing fee. The architecture and building materials don’t merit it. Plain and simple they saw the day coming when it would be necessary to rebuild the Amp once again. For Chautauqua to be forced to rehab the existing facility according to the Secretary of the Interiors Standards would have been an undue infringement.

The Old Girls Dignity & A Chautauqua Salute As to the rest of the committees plans for rehabbing the Amp here is where the Old Girls’ dignity comes in. Are you really proposing, surgical interventions, collapsible/removable bleachers, retractable awnings, large screen monitors, and more unlicensed cushions? The first Amp just rolled over in its landfill and the current one is shaking in her footings. For the love of Peter’s Bridge, please just let the Old Girl go out with some dignity. Tap her in at the end of June, celebrate her all season long and twice on Sundays with an old fashioned and historically significant Chautauqua Salute to thank her for 123 seasons of distinguished service. The only evolution that should be occurring is the torch being passed from Chautauqua’s current Amphitheater to the next generation Amphitheater.

Chautauqua Salute – Psst it’s the hankies.

The point in history at which we stand is full of promise and danger. The world will either move forward to unity and widely shared prosperity – or it will move apart.  – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Copyright © 2015 by George Seaver

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