Whitehern Museum Archives - Search Results

Search - a searchable database of letters/essays/etc.

Genealogy - short biographical information of each family member

Photographs - various images pertaining to the McQuesten family

Thesis - essays on the McQuestens and lifewriting by Mary Anderson

Timelines - a chronological list of events in the McQuesten family and corresponding historical events

W-MCP7-1.145 TO THOMAS B. MCQUESTEN FROM K.M. BROMAN
Jan 1 1943 date estimated
To: T.B. McQuesten
From:

STOCK DETAILS OF NAVY HALL GATE CONSTRUCTION.

1943

Design- K.M. Broman
Workmanship-Fred Flatman¹

Each Gate:
For C Scrolls - 4 old spikes 1/2" by 1/2" by 14"

Fire Welded
That is - 72 spikes in 18 scrolls

Maple Leaves:-Each leaf forged from 1 3/4 by 1/4 scrap and fire welded to 1/2 by 1/4 inches forged from old 1/2 by 1/2" spikes.

Inner Frame:- Fabricated from Old Park Restaurant Railings and Tomb Rails from Drummond Hill Cemetary.

Outer Frame:- 1 1/2 by 1 1/2"- hanging bar. 2 Fire Welded culled ends.

Meeting Style:- 3 Fire Welded culled ends of I I/8 [sic] by 1 1/8 inches.

Top and Bottom Horizontals:- Fabricated from 2 by 1 inch culled ends fire welded.

Bands:- 9 1 by 1/4 inches forged from old Victoria Park Railing 60 Diverse, forged from 21 1/2 by 1/2 inch. Old spikes.

Hinges: Forged from 1 1/2 by 1 1/2 culled ends.

Handles:- Forged 3/4 inch diameter culled end.

Letters:- Forged from scrap ends of 1 inch by 1/2 inch and 1 1/4 x 1/2 inch.

Figures:- From the 8 and 9 - forged from an old piece of Wagon Tire.

Rings:- Fabricated from old tomb railings 3/4" x 3/4" forged from 5/8" x 5/8

Latch Attachment:- Forged from scrap

Other Fittings:- Forged from scrap

Total 1/2 by 1/2 inch old spikes in each gate 83.

Total 1/2 by 1/2 inch spikes in completed job 166.

Fred Flatman communicated with Thomas McQuesten regarding construction projects. See also W-MCP7-1.017.

We might add here a note about the lifesize iron flowers that grace the top of the Whitehern garden wall at the back of the garden: holly-hocks, sunflower, and?
They were made by Fred Flatman, the same iron-worker craftsman who made the Hendrie Gates at the RBG and the Navy Hall Gates at Niagara.

Box 14-126 states: "The wrought iron flowers set into the stone wall continued to decorate the gardens all year round. Fred Flatman, a local craftsman, had continued the garden's ornamental theme when he fashioned these unique objects of folk art without the use of a mould; instead he worked the metal with anvil and hammer, creating each leaf in a unique and totally distinct way."
See also: Box 14-110; W-MCP7-1.111; W-MCP7-1.017; W-MCP7-1.145.

Copyright 2002 Whitehern Historic House and Garden
The development of this website was directed by Mary Anderson, Ph.D. and Janelle Baldwin, M.A.
Please direct questions and comments to Mary Anderson, Ph.D.

This site was created in partnership with and is hosted by the Hamilton Public Library.

This digital collection was produced with financial assistance from Canada's Digital Collections initiative, Industry Canada.