Mr. Charlton's Coffee House

So, this is why I like my job. Stuff like this.

The company I work for, VHB Inc., has a contract with Colonial Williamsburg. We do all of their engineering, design, survey, environmental, and land development work. Their latest plan? To revitalize and rebuild the old Coffee House on DOG (Duke of Gloucester) Street.

This is what the site looks like now...

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH01.jpg

One of the things we, as surveyors, need to do, is accurately locate the walls of the foundation, so that when the new building is built, it will fit on top of the old foundation. Thing is, the building is being built off-site, then torn down, and re-built downtown. More on this later.

Here is one of the old 18th century walls.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH02.jpg

Artsy shot...

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH03.jpg

Archeologists removing, numbering, and cleaning all the loose bricks (one of which my boss knocked out :rolleyes:).

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH04.jpg

One of the items in the basement, was this old safe. It weighed... well... alot... Took 4 people just to tip it up, and get the Bobcat to move it.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH05.jpg

But even the Bobcat had trouble handling it up this incline.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH06.jpg

Sad thing is, it's being thrown out. Several people claim to want it, but nobody has actually made an effort. The girl in the last photo, was on the phone, telling someone where they were puting it. Hopefully someone will save it.

Gun and historic description poster.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/ch07.jpg

Ok, so the coffee house is being built off-site. By hand. No power tools or post 18th century tools whatsoever.

The plan is to build the structure on these 4 temporary piers.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH08.jpg

Here is the pit, where the rafters, floor joists, and other large beams are cut.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH09.jpg

They do it like this.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH11.jpg

They come from this.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH10.jpg

These gentlemen are splitting and shaping shingles for the roof from cedar logs.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH14.jpg

Here's our crew laying out the existing foundation points on the temporary piers.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH12.jpg

The idea is that we map out the foundation for the carpenters. They build the house on those 4 points. Then, in theory, when the place the house on the existing foundation, downtown, it will fit. It should fit. :thumbsup:

So, the whole thing is built by hand, using methods used in "colonial times". Then when it's re-built downtown, they may need us to come out and lay things out. I volunteered, as did my boss, to come out in colonial garb, old instruments, and put on a show. ;D

Completion for the coffee house at the temp-site is Dec 20th, 2009. Completion at the "official" site is the same date, following year.

I simply can't believe that they're throwing out that safe. Is it open? Do they know what's inside it? How old it is?
Makes me tempted to drive down and get it!

It's open. It's empty.

Problem with the safe was, many people said "I WANT IT!", but as so often happens, nobody actually steps forward to claim it. The head guy working on site said he would place it near the dumpster, and it's first-come, first serve.

Wow...that's cool. I would love to sit and watch them building that.

Very cool, Mike. I often wish for simpler times.

with dirt roads and a motard.

Where's the coffee?

Is Safe Girl a barrista?

:D

She's an archeologist... even better. And she's hot. And wears pink underwear. Don't ask me how I know this.

She's an archeologist... even better. And she's hot. And wears pink underwear. Don't ask me how I know this.

Sounds like your surveyor-ing goes everywhere. ;D

Sorry... when hot girl bends over to pick up a brick, is wearing jeans, has pale, soft-looking, young, tight, inviting to the touch skin, and her bright pink panties reveal themselves... I notice. I'm a man. I have a pen is.

Pics, man! Pics!

That's the only one I have of her. Sorry. :(

She was hot. Just trust me.
And she likes to dig in the dirt. That's like +5 hotness points right there.

Just wait till you show up in your period-authentic puffy shirt. Then she'll be all yours.

I'm surprised nobody wanted that safe, even if it were just for scrap metal. If it weighs that much, it's gotta be worth something, not even mentioning the historical value.

So group ride to the opening? See Mike all dressed up with a powdered wig? I'm in.

Mike, this is a very cool little project. Please keep us updated on this.
As for the opening, are you gonna ride the SV in the old school gear?

Oh and maybe you can chat up the archeologist..... get in there dude!

If I'm there on opening day, you're all invited. :thumbsup:

Just wait till you show up in your period-authentic puffy shirt. Then she'll be all yours.


HAHAHAHAHA!! Ren Fest dudes are the BEST. Especially when they wear Adidas with the puffy shirt and tights.

Very cool project--will you get out there again before the opening? Please post more pics.

I'll definately be out there. Boss informed me that we're going to try and get the job published in POB (surveyor magazine) or maybe get a "presidential award" through our own company, even though surveyors often get over looked for presidential awards.

UPDATE

I stopped up on my way back from the CWF office and snapped a couple new pics. They have the floor beams placed... Solid oak 10"x12"x32'2.25"

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH15.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH16.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ascsurveyor/work/CW%20Coffee%20House/CH17.jpg