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The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report Lakeview Cemetery and Crematorium 1016 Colborne Road Sarnia, Ontario Madame Julie Dompierre, Director Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) Les Terrasses de la Chaudire 25 Eddy Street, Gatineau, 5th floor Quebec, K1A 0M5 National Program for the Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers
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TO:
FOR:
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
DATE:
1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION DATE OF INSPECTION: PC FIELD UNIT CONTACT: 28 October 2011 Dhruba Subedi Asset Manager SW Ontario Field Unit Sunny, 5o Celsius
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS:
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE GRAVE ENVIRONMENT: The gravesite of the Honourable Alexander Mackenzie is located in Lakeview Cemetery which is situated about three kilometres northeast of the historic downtown core. It is a well-maintained cemetery featuring a stone entrance gate, a substantial mausoleum in the classical style, and winding roadways through a landscape of mature trees. Established as a non-denominational cemetery in 1879 under the ownership of the Sarnia Cemetery Corporation, it is currently managed by a volunteer board of directors and by several full and part-time staff. Starting in fiscal year 2010-2011 Parks Canada has entered into a contract with an outside landscape firm to maintain the site. The gravesite of Alexander Mackenzie is part of a large Mackenzie family plot situated on a gently sloping site made up of four separate plots identified from the top of the hill to the bottom as plot numbers 97, 98, 99 and 103. The height of land is dominated by a substantial sandstone obelisk resting on a granite plinth and surmounted by a shroud covered urn. It is finely carved with leaf-like motifs in the upper levels and incised with the names of many of the Mackenzie family members including that of Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie. In addition to the monument there are fifty, nearly identical headstones composed of a granite slab set into a sandstone base. These stones are arranged in roughly parallel lines behind the monument and down the slope of the hill. Five small marble blocks mark the boundaries of the site which is surrounded by mature trees on three sides and by the asphalt roadway at the bottom of the slope. The awareness panel, the125th Confederation Anniversary plaque, and the flagpole are located just off the roadway directly in front of the family plot.
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
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2. Flagpole Observation: The flagpole and 125th Confederation Anniversary plaque are located at the base of the slope just off the paved roadway. The flagpole is in good condition although it shows the usual wear in the black anodized coating caused by the exposed wire loop which holds the bottom of the flag to the pole. The metal cap protecting the brackets and bolts which attach the pole to the concrete base does not function effectively as it tends to hold in debris and moisture rather than keeping it out. As a result the bolts and base plate anchoring the stand to the concrete base show significant signs of rust and staining of the concrete.
Flagpole and 125 Confederation Anniversary plaque [Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
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The accumulation of debris and moisture which collects underneath the protective cap.
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Observation: The 125th Confederation Anniversary plaque is attached to the concrete base of the flagpole. The bronze plaque and metal stand are in good condition. Recommended Action: None
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
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Photo illustrating the erosion of some of the inscriptions. Mackenzie family monument in 2011. [Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
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The actual gravesite of Sir Alexander Mackenzie is identified by a small granite slab with a sandstone base. The slightly arched and canted top edge of the slab bears his name and the year of his death. It is one of 50 similar markers located on the family plots (see Section 5 Other grave markers). Over the years moisture penetrated the joint between the sandstone and the granite causing the wrought iron dowels, which attached to the two stones together, to rust, expand and cause the granite to crack. In 1999 it was one of eight similar stones to be conserved. The original wrought iron dowels were removed and replaced by stainless steel. At the same time the cracks in the granite were mortared and reinforced with additional stainless steel rods set in epoxy. A piece of the sandstone plinth which had broken off was re-attached to the stone. The repairs appear to be wearing well and there is no sign of further deterioration.
Recommended Actions Medium Priority: A masonry conservation specialist should be engaged to evaluate the overall performance of the conservation work carried out in 1999 and 2009.
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
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Mary F. Mackenzie headstone. The missing piece of Unidentified headstone showing repairs, and in good stone and open cracks were in-filled with Reconstec 310. condition.
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
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The above photo taken in 2011 shows that the stones have been straightened.
Marble boundary marker showing damage from mowers. Raised boundary marker showing less damage.
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
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The landscaping consists of lawn and one mature oak tree located in the lower half the site. Several other mature trees flank and overhang the site. The lawn had been recently topped-dressed and is in good condition. The 2005 report had noted the erosion of soil around the base of the central monument and around some of the individual headstones but this was corrected as part of the work carried out in 2010. Gravel and topsoil were added at the base of the main monument and the grade was sloped away from the base to provide better drainage. The grass around the bases of the fifty headstones is now flush with the lawn. The 2005 monitoring report identified a
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
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[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
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Former Prime Ministers Grave Marker Medium Priority: A masonry conservation specialist should be engaged to evaluate the overall performance of the conservation work carried out in 2009. Other Grave Markers Medium Priority: The performance of the masonry conservation carried out in 1999 and in 2010 should be reviewed by a masonry specialist and any necessary repairs to the deteriorated headstone be identified. Ongoing: The condition of the stones and the impact of landscape maintenance practices should be monitored.
Landscape features (pavement, benches and others) Medium priority: To encourage the Lakeview Cemetery to remove or repair the sign. Parks Canada may wish to consider developing a program of directional signs for the gravesites, particularly for those located in large cemeteries.
Here is a summary of the recommended actions over the next five coming years: Recommendations 2012 Flagpole The manufacturer of the flagpole should be 2013 2014 2015 2016
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
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[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
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[Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report: The Hon. Alexander Mackenzie]
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