Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Our Navy's Long History

In 1832, Alexander Parris designed this granite block building that now houses the museum for the U.S. Frigate Constitution anchored nearby in the Charlestown Navy Yard. I would hazard a guess that this was built with Quincy granite but I haven't been able to document that.   Parris was an innovator of naval architecture and much of his naval architectural work can be viewed here.

3 comments:

DAG said...

Slim, your guess is most likely right on target. I seem to remember that the dry dock was built with Quincy granite.

BING said...

YES Indeed , virtually ALL the granite bldgs in the Charlestown Navy yard were built with Quincy Granite under the supervision of Alexander Parris .

FYI -- Parris Burial site is a small obelisk at the REAR of the Briggs Burying Ground on Rte 3A in Pembroke , only a few yards from his Home , a Gambre Roofed and gabled house on Rte #A near the famous Hexagonal House which he also designed

BING said...

The First Dry Dock in Boston Harbor was designed by Alexander Parris . Most of the Brick & Garnite Bldgs in the Yard were designed by A. Parris beginning in 1830 - 1852 when he died .
Minot Ledge Lighthouse was co-designed by Parris and Gen. Joseph Totten , Corps of Engineers

Summer Attraction

This tiger swallowtail butterfly was a delight to see pollinating the phlox bed along my driveway.