Chain Forge Machinery in Building 105: Special Resource Study, Charlestown Navy Yard - Boston National Historical Park, National Park Service
Raber Associates, Contractor, Raber M, Malone PM, Gordon RB, Johnson WF. 2014. Chain Forge Machinery in Building 105: Special Resource Study, Charlestown Navy Yard - Boston National Historical Park, National Park Service. Boston Preservation Alliance. Boston, Massachusetts
A Special Resource Study for the Chain Forge Machinery in Building 105 at Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston National Historical Park. The Chain Forge (Building 105) is a contributing resource to the Boston Naval Shipyard (BNS) within the boundaries of Boston National Historical Park. Building 105 has the most intact assemblage of BNS equipment from the era of shipyard operations which ended in 1973, and it has national significance for its role in providing the anchor chain to the U.S. Navy using a die-lock design designed at BNS. The structure was transferred to the Boston Redevelopment Authority in 1978, but the federal government retains ownership of the equipment. The special resource study of the equipment in the Chain Forge was prepared as part of the planning for the proposed redevelopment of the building as a hotel. Initiated when site managers believed the building to be better suited for commercial development than museum use, the study assesses how relocation of the equipment could allow adaptive reuse of the structure. The goal of the study was to assess rarity, significance, and interpretive potential of the equipment, and to provide recommendations for equipment retention, relocation, or disposition. The research team consisted of experts in industrial history, metallurgy, heavy industry, and interpretation of historic industrial sites. The special resource study presents a synthesized history of the development and evolution of the forge through its materials and work processes, providing an understanding of the role and significance of the equipment. Based on these findings, retention and interpretation recommendations are offered.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Raber Associates, Contractor; Raber, Michael; Malone, Patrick; Gordon, Robert; Johnson, William
- Date of Issue
- 2014-07
- Publisher
- Boston Preservation Alliance
- Units
- BOST , NER
- Keywords
- Adaptive Reuse, anchor cable, Chain Forge, Commercial development, die-lock chain, equipment, furnace, Industry, Interpretation, Manufacturing, metallurgy, National Historic Landmark, resource relocation, Shipyard, U.S. Navy, wrought iron