Pettibone Transfers Materials for Masonry Crew

Enlarge Image A Pettibone T8044 helped Northeast Masonry preserve the past while moving into the future on the Fort Ticonderoga restoration project in New York.

May 31, 2006 — In October 2005, construction began on the Deborah Clarke Mars Education Center at the historic Fort Ticonderoga in New York state. The new facility will offer visitors a modern, year-round experience for learning about the fort's past. Northeast Masonry, Pelham, N.H. was awarded the masonry contract for the $20.8 million restoration project, which is the fort's largest since the 1930s and is set to be completed in the fall of 2007.

 

Northeast Masonry rented a Pettibone T8044 from Power Up Equipment Rental in Auburn, N.H. The T8044 has a maximum capacity of 8,000 pounds, a lift height of 44 feet and offers 70 inches of horizontal boom travel. Like any job, the construction project at Fort Ticonderoga posed its share of obstacles. For example, the site rests on bed of clay, making for different conditions from one day to the next. At times, the rain turns the site into a virtual mud pit. Other times, it's a dust bowl. With 21 inches of ground clearance, the T8044 maneuvers in all conditions.

 

The fort's historic grounds and structures are not the only concern for Northeast Masonry. During the tourist season the construction crew must keep the safety of the fort's visitors constantly in mind. Northeast Masonry has benefited most from the T8044's boom-transferring feature. It allows close access to the structure and, once positioned, transfers the boom out for precise placement of materials.

 

“The Pettibone is a fast machine and very responsive,” said Freeman Vicaire, the T8044's operator, who routinely lifts containers of mortar, pallets of limestone, and other materials with the machine.

 

Thanks to the machine's excellent visibility, Vicaire is able to survey the entire work site for obstacles while transporting materials. When restoration is completed in the fall of 2007, visitors will be able to enjoy the fort's beauty and history for decades to come.