DeTurk House west root cellar vent grille

Series of three images (one digital copy of a field notes drawing by L. Ward and two digital photographs) showing the vent grille used by blacksmith James Kieffer of Honey Brook, Chester County, PA, to fabricate the grille to the precise dimensions of the vent opening in the west wall of the root cellar, and the re-fabricated grille. The grille was installed in the fall of 2011 by restoration mason Joe Forrest, who also laid the stone sill supporting the replacement grille. The milled steel rails and bars were cut to the specifications in the drawing and secured with the "fish-tail" anchor set into the mortar joint located in the center of the new sill, which rises above the disintegrated sill by approximately five inches. The vertical bars are aligned on the diagonal in the traditional manner to allow more light into the root cellar without reducing the volume of air vented through the grille. Also attached is a photo of the grille after installation [Image #2]. Image three is of the previously existing early [possibly original] grille in the vent opening in the east wall of the root cellar. This grille was used as a template for the replacement grille, modified slightly to fit into the existing opening. Laurence Ward, 2011; updated, March, 2021