Renovation of Independence Hall tower under way

Scaffolding surrounds the tower of Independence Hall as buggy driver Kim Hart steers Martini down Chestnut Street. The tower is undergoing $5.6 million in renovations over 14 months, and yielding some secrets. Story and another photo on B3.
Scaffolding surrounds the tower of Independence Hall as buggy driver Kim Hart steers Martini down Chestnut Street. The tower is undergoing $5.6 million in renovations over 14 months, and yielding some secrets. Story and another photo on B3.
By Stephan Salisbury, Inquirer Culture Writer
Posted: October 15, 2010

The scaffolding is up, girdling the familiar tower of Independence Hall.

A decorative scrim, donated by the Friends of Independence and sporting an image of the tower, will soon itself be girdling the scaffolding - a reminder of what lies within and a cover for unsightly construction.

The much-needed 14-month renovation of the tower is well under way, and previously unknown facts are revealing themselves - maybe not earthshaking surprises, but surprises nonetheless.

Example: For years, architectural stewards at Independence National Historical Park believed that the spindle holding up the tower's stylized pointed weathervane was constructed from two pieces of iron.

Not so. There are three.

"The weathervane needs to be refurbished, particularly the golden ball," park spokeswoman Jane Cowley said this week. "It needs to be regilded."

The tower had been slated for renovation for several years, but the project gained urgency when water damage to metal dowels anchoring its thick wood siding was discovered more than a year ago.

The renovation project, funded by $5.6 million in federal stimulus money, began in July.

The tower is not the one that graced the hall at the time of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitutional Convention. That structure was found to be seriously unstable toward the end of the 18th century. It was dismantled and in 1828 the current tower, designed by William Strickland, was built.

Contact culture writer Stephan Salisbury at 215-854-5594 or ssalisbury@phillynews.com.

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