NPS looking for Bricklayers to work on Fort Jefferson

[Matthew.Rector]

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-break...4342-6738r.htm (accessed 30 March 2004)

Remote Fort Jefferson to get facelift

KEY WEST, Fla., March 30 (UPI) -- The government is looking for 15 or so hardy bricklayers willing to live a remote island life to restore Fort Jefferson 68 miles off Key West, Fla.

The National Park Service will let out bids to contractors in April on the first phase of a $16 million facelift for the coastal fort and prison in the Dry Tortugas, a cluster of seven coral reefs, the Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday.

The 158-year-old fort was designated a National Park in 1992, but has been deterioration in the salt air and salt water for 130 years.

The workers will live in much the same conditions as Civil War soldiers and the prisoners held there. Those prisoners included Dr. Samuel Mudd, convicted of aiding John Wilkes Booth by setting his leg after he assassinated Abraham Lincoln.

"It's going to be hot and tedious and tiresome," said Mike Jester, chief of maintenance for Fort Jefferson. "You're out there without your family, friends, hobbies, whatever. It can get pretty monotonous."

On the brighter side they will get all the fish they can catch and all the marine scenery they can see.

A more detailed article appears in the Orlando Sentinel. Its a good read!
"Feds to hire hardy masonry workers to restore remote, spectacular Fort Jefferson"
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...home-headlines (accessed 30 March 2004)

[Strawfoot]

"You're out there without your family, friends, hobbies, whatever. It can get pretty monotonous."


Sounds familiar... But fascinating nonetheless.

Mike Phineas
Arlington, TX

[markmason]

Reminds me of those haze -grey & underway days

Mat, I went out to see the fort. Very interesting place indeed. Wish other NPS site received attention such as this site is getting, though it needs it.

[Mike Ventura]

I've been to Ft. Jefferson. Layed over for a day and a half in 1994 as a stop on a sail boat trip to Cuba.

There are two ways to get there - boat and sea plane from Key West. There are some fast boast from Key West that do day trips to Ft. Jefferson.

While beautiful and remote, there are a couple of things that discourage long stays. 1) The fort is located in the Dry Tortugas - dry as in "no water" dry; 2) mosquitos - this is ground zero for these nasty little pests. There is a bird sanctuary on a small mangrove island just off the boat dock and the cacaphony of bird noises and sounds prevents sleeping from about 4:30 AM to dusk.

There's some excellent diving and snorkeling on the reef at nearby Loggerhead Key.

The Cuban charterboat captains will sometimes anchor off the island at night during multi-day charters. You can trade Budweiser and Marlboros for Cuban rum and Cohibas.

Nice place to visit (for 24 hours or less) wouldn't want to be there beyond that.