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Post by neferetus on Feb 17, 2007 15:57:41 GMT -5
Rich Curilla remembers it, too: (From thealamofilm site, Feb, 24, 2003)
I too loved this multimedia presentation. Tiomkin's score sounded MUCH better in there than on my limited stereo. And I also loved having my childhood saluted by the art including the shots from "Davy Crockett" and "The Last Command." I felt like shouting, "SEE! Somebody else appreciated those images as much as I do!" Of course, the lawyer says that's copyright infringement, but me? I say it's a way of living. And, yes, thank you Kevin -- long over due.
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Post by Bromhead24 on Feb 19, 2007 10:24:38 GMT -5
Good read Nef.
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Post by neferetus on Mar 7, 2007 14:17:57 GMT -5
This article comes to us courtesy of Ted Cole:
AP Texas News
March 6, 2007, 3:19PM Modern-day fight at Alamo is against mold, deterioration
By MICHELLE ROBERTS Associated Press Writer © 2007 The Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO — The pitched battle that led to the fall of the Alamo 171 years ago Tuesday was a fight for independence, but these days the fight at the Texas landmark is against black mold and deteriorating limestone.
Left untreated, the mold creeps down from the top of the building, first darkening and then eating away at the creamy colored stone, said Alamo historian and curator Bruce Winders.
"What it does is dissolve the rock," Winders said. "It doesn't do it immediately, but it's one of those really gradual processes."
The iconic Alamo facade has to be treated with a mild fungicide periodically to keep off the mold that grows over all the rock surfaces, including the less historic exterior walls.
That isn't the only challenge to keeping up structures that have stood at the site for nearly 300 years. The limestone, quarried from the area, chips easily and weaker pieces crumble from the blocks as they age, Winders said.
To preserve the shrine — the old church building most people conjure up when they think of the Alamo — and the Long Barrack, the other original structure on the site, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas hope to begin a capital campaign in May, said President-General Nelma Wilkinson. The nonprofit DRT manages the Alamo grounds for the state.
The capital plan, which still requires approval from the Texas Historical Commission and the DRT management board, would raise about $30 million for site preservation and considerably more for other projects including an auditorium for school programs, improved restroom facilities and educational programs.
More than 2 million people a year visit the site where revolutionaries fought to preserve Texas' nascent independence from Mexico. The Mexican army captured the church-turned-garrison on March 6, 1836.
For generations what was left of the Alamo site deteriorated, used as an Army supply depot, a general store and a warehouse. Clara Driscoll put up the money in 1903 to keep the facility from becoming a hotel, and the Texas Legislature bought it two years later, giving the DRT management of the Alamo.
Wilkinson said the group will be seeking mostly corporate donations but will also ask individuals to contribute. The site doesn't charge admission.
Discussions about what kind of capital improvements should be done and what kind of preservation work is needed have been going on more than a year, she said.
"We know what has to be done," she said, noting that the DRT has long advocated preservation of the Alamo. "We want those DRT members 100 years from now to say those ol' girls knew what they were doing."
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Post by Greg C. on Mar 7, 2007 16:22:34 GMT -5
very interesting and sad at the same time. hopefully they'll come up with a plan to save the church.
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Post by neferetus on Mar 14, 2007 13:14:45 GMT -5
When you go to the Alamo, take a close look at the hump and all upper surfaces. They have, in recent years, been covered by sheets of metal to prevent any further water from seeping into the limetone.
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Post by Greg C. on Mar 14, 2007 14:01:22 GMT -5
i'll see if my camera can focus in on it.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 26, 2007 14:46:40 GMT -5
Here are two views of how Adina de Zavala thought the Long Barrack looked. As a mission.
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Post by neferetus on Apr 26, 2007 14:48:45 GMT -5
At the time of the battle. So, how would you like it if Adina got her way and the Long Barrack was 'restored' to look like this today?
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Post by neferetus on Apr 27, 2007 13:28:54 GMT -5
Clara Driscoll, on the other hand, wanted to tear down all of the buildings around the Alamo church and then utilize the resulting space as a park. (Sort of reminds me of Trafalgar Square.)
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Post by Cole_blooded on Apr 27, 2007 14:33:03 GMT -5
It may sound a bit selfish,but it "would be better" if it was built up to original size! (Buildings,etc cleared) ;D Try and make it more resemble the 1836 time period! Yeah it would be a TON of work involved,but hey just a thinkin! Has there ever been a computer generated version of what this might look like?"1836 version Alamo compound in 2007,8,9 etc!" TED COLE....AKA....Cole_blooded
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Post by alamojohnuk on Apr 28, 2007 11:48:51 GMT -5
I would have thought there are enough "computer whiz kids" around here to put something similar to what we saw submitted at this years symposium together, now that was impressive!!
John
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Post by Greg C. on Apr 28, 2007 11:53:04 GMT -5
welcome back alamojohnuk! we need some more posts from you but its for your own good. you need to become eligible for the contest on may fifth!
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Post by Cole_blooded on Apr 28, 2007 14:16:35 GMT -5
Here is an update on the trench and cost! TED COLE....aka....Cole_blooded ....................................................................................................................... Alamo dig racking up a hefty bill 04/26/2007 John Tedesco Express-News Sifting through four cubic meters of dirt and artifacts dating to the Battle of the Alamo will add at least $150,000 to the city's tab to renovate Main Plaza. Preliminary work is scheduled to begin today at what archaeologists believe is a trench dug by Mexican troops in 1835 before Texian rebels seized San Antonio and the Alamo. The surrender of Mexican Gen. Martín Perfecto de Cós to the Texians set the stage for Cós' brother-in-law, Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna, to lay siege to the Alamo on Feb. 23, 1836. Last month, construction workers discovered the trench after they scraped through a street near the plaza's southeast corner to install a storm water drainage line. The discovery has excited local archaeologists and history buffs. On a recent afternoon at the site, Kay Hindes, a city archaeologist, showed off a broken sword point, a well-used gunflint and other artifacts that have already been found. "Isn't that beautiful?" Hindes said as she held colorful pieces of unearthed pottery. But the painstaking process of digging up relics comes at a price. An April 17 proposal written by Eugene Foster, project coordinator with Austin-based contractor PBS&J, says the archaeological site demands more than 1,500 man hours — at $100 an hour — to excavate and study. Coupled with the work of initially analyzing the site and other costs, the bill could total $176,000. The proposal did not include the costs involved if any human remains are discovered; any special laboratory testing, such as carbon dating; and any treatment to conserve sensitive materials, such as steel or iron artifacts. Public Works Director Tom Wendorf signed off on the proposal by PBS&J on April 20, writing in the margins: "OK to bill up to $150,000." Further costs would have to be approved by Wendorf. Reached by phone Thursday, Wendorf said PBS&J's original proposal was much higher. "Quite frankly, when I saw their initial proposal of $250,000, I was pretty flabbergasted," Wendorf said. Wendorf said he suggested using volunteers from the Southern Texas Archaeological Association to sift through the material at a more cost-effective location to whittle down costs and stoke public interest. "There are people here in this community who are interested in archaeological stuff and that kind of thing," Wendorf said. PBS&J was "going to have zero engagement" with them, he said. A message left with PBS&J wasn't returned Thursday. Foster's proposal estimated the volunteer work would save the city $8,000. Wendorf said the savings would be higher. Main Plaza's renovation and drainage improvements — a project championed by Mayor Phil Hardberger — is expected to cost "in excess" of $10 million, Wendorf said, with funding coming from the city, county and private donors. The $10 million tab included a cushion for potential archaeological discoveries. But with the Main Plaza project still in its early stages, the $150,000 excavation already puts the city over its estimated archaeological cost, which Wendorf said was around $100,000. Hindes, the city archaeologist, said researchers today will begin clearing a layer of protective sand placed over the site, and the excavation could start in earnest early next week. A precise schedule hasn't been hammered out, but Hindes said volunteer archaeologists will sift through the soil and artifacts next week at a city-owned property near downtown where the public will be welcome to watch. Starting on the heels of Fiesta, a 10-day festival originally started to commemorate the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto, the excavation offers a physical connection to the city's rich history, said Mark Denton, an archaeologist with the Texas Historical Commission. "It's going to be neat if they can get it going while Fiesta's still on," Denton said. ......................Hopefully a bunch of photos of the trench and its contents will be released sometime! ;D.....TED
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Post by Greg C. on Apr 28, 2007 14:55:46 GMT -5
thanks for the news ted!
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Post by neferetus on Apr 28, 2007 17:02:26 GMT -5
Regarding the Adina de Zavala/Clara Driscoll debate on how the Alamo should be 'preserved', the whole scenario sort of reminds me of the old poem about the three blind men and the elephant which concludes with "Though all of them were partially right, all of them were wrong." Neither women had a clear idea of what the Alamo historically looked like during the siege and merely went by how they themselves wanted it to look. While Adina wanted a completely inaccurate reconstruction of the Long Barrack, Clara claimed that the structure was not even standing at the time of the siege and so wanted it cleared away altogether.
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Post by Cole_blooded on Apr 28, 2007 22:28:28 GMT -5
Agreed and thank goodness neither version was implemented! Imagine if either one had access to the internet back then! TED COLE....aka....Cole_blooded
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Post by alamojohnuk on Apr 29, 2007 6:38:31 GMT -5
If they were around today, and had access to this and other forums on the topic, it could have turned into another battle royal of the Alamo.
John ;D ;D
P.S Thanks for the welcome back Greg, have been a visitor over the months, just haven't got around to posting, loved reading about your trip, glad you had a great time.
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Post by neferetus on May 7, 2007 13:09:15 GMT -5
Adina de Zavala’s plan to save the Long Barrack from being torn down, from a letter to her attorney dated January 10, 1908.
I have my original idea in vein & that is to take possession bodily of the Alamo building room to be vacated by the Hugo & Schmeltzer Co. That is by putting an agent in charge & holding the fort. This could be done by me in person as president of De Zavala C. The H.S. people are afraid to deliver the key to us for fear they may be held liable or responsible for the rents or for damages, etc. So we would have to take it. Mrs. Bates writes me just what you told me before---Writes that you say for us to “act as though there has been no injunction, for it was really void”, & should they try to hold us in contempt of Court to say you told me to go ahead. So I really believe I shall be brave enough to go ahead and take possession---that is---step in when the S. people step out, unless you advise me to the contrary, for though the H. S. people may not deliver to us the keys---we can stay inside & make our own keys. What do you think of it?
We want the Alamo---nothing else---nothing less will do. We would prefer that it all be under our management Church and Alamo proper but the Church is not as important, nor in much danger as the Alamo proper (the building now occupied by the Hugo & Schmeltzer people).
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Post by neferetus on May 7, 2007 13:10:52 GMT -5
Clara Driscoll, on the other hand, distributed this petition that same year to have the Long Barrack razed.
To All Texans: As legal custodians of the Alamo, The Daughters of the Republic of Texas request your signature in endorsement of their plan for the beautifying of the Alamo Mission grounds adjoining the Chapel of the Alamo, more generally known as the Hugo-Schmeltzer property.
It is their desire to convert this property into a beautiful park filled with swaying palms and tropical verdure, enclosed by a low way with arched gateway of Spanish architecture. They also wish to restore the roof of the Chapel of the Alamo and have a replica of the original doors placed at the entrance to the Church.
The Daughters of the Republic of Texas ask for your support in their honest endeavor to be worthy the obligation imposed upon them by the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of texas. Clara Driscoll Sevier Chairman Alamo Auxiliary Committee Menger Hotel, San Antonio, Texas or 37 Madison Avenue, New York City
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Post by neferetus on May 7, 2007 13:12:21 GMT -5
Adina de Zavala's bizarre envisionment of the Alamo's convent yard.
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