WPA Cemetery Entrance Restoration

Overview

  • In 2020 the City of Lawton closed its WPA cemetery entrance after being struck by a sanitation truck and began a two year search for a qualified contractor

  • Based on our experience as a contractor focused specifically on historic preservation, Old Home Rescue was awarded the contract in October 2022

  • Within 60 days of mobilization the cemetery entrance was repaired and restored

The Story of the Highland Cemetery Entrance

In 2020 the entrance to Lawton’s Highland Cemetery, a 1936 Works Progress Administration masonry structure, was damaged after being struck by a sanitation truck. During the impact the horizontal structure was shifted 6”, compromising the integrity of the structure and requiring the main entrance to be closed while the City of Lawton searched for a qualified contractor. 

Buried here at the Highland Cemetery are;

  • Elmer Thomas (top), U.S. Representative and Senator who “ranks among Oklahoma’s most important political leaders during the state’s first four decades” and was instrumental in the development of Medicine Park & securing water for the City of Lawton. 

  • Heck Thomas (bottom), one the Wild West’s most effective lawmen, known for apprehending dozens of notorious outlaws including members of the Doolin, Dalton, & Sam Bass Gangs. 

  • More importantly, the Highland Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 20,000 other loved ones. 

The Challenge of Finding a Qualified Contractor


With the skilled trade shortage it is often difficult to find a qualified contractor in even the most common aspects of construction; however, this problem is exacerbated in the preservation trades. Because of the Highland Cemetery’s historic significance as a Works Progress Administration structure, additional requirements were added to the standard items such as Worker’s Compensation, a Performance Bond, OSHA standards, and others. These requirements were;  

  1. A historic masonry contractor that specializes in the repair and rehabilitation of historic structures 

  2. A minimum of 5 years experience specializing in the historic restoration of properties on either the National Register of Historic Places or State Register of Historic Places

  3. Three reference projects completed within the last 3 years 

For over two years the entrance remained closed while the City of Lawton sought a contractor that met these requirements. 


Why the City of Lawton Chose Old Home Rescue


After working on 500+ historic homes and buildings and 30+ individually listed properties on the National Register of Historic Places over the last 6 years, knowledge of the National Park Service’s Preservation Briefs and traditional building methods is rooted in our work every day. 


Additionally, each of our projects starts with research. For the Highland Cemetery entrance this meant that our work began with a historic mortar analysis to ensure the appropriate type of mortar - the correct mortar would allow this structure to stand for another 85 years, the incorrect mortar would have “catastrophic implications” on the longevity of the structure said Architectural Conservator, Anthony Hita, regarding the mortar analysis. 


“It’s our history,” said Lawton City Councilman Kelly Harris, “There’s nothing more important than our history. If we lose that, we lose our identity.”


The Results

After receiving our Award Letter and Notice to Proceed on October 21, 2022, we began our process to collect a sample for the historic mortar analysis, to document the structure including each stone and orientation, and to mobilize for the project. 


By November 15th we received the results of the mortar analysis and started our scope of work that met or exceed the NPS Preservation Brief 2: Repoint Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings including; 

  • Repointing of the vertical columns using a color matched Type-N mortar

  • Disassemble, label, and palletize the horizontal assembly

  • Reuse and reset existing lintel

  • Layup salvaged stone to match original dimensions and layout

  • Install rope weeps for water drainage

  • Clean the entire structure with detergent designed for historic masonry

  • Repair, repaint, and reinstall damaged gate 


On January 10, 2023, within 90 days of our notice to proceed and 60 days of mobilization, the project that took two years to find a qualified contractor was completed.

Horizontal structure at complete disassembly

Gates of the Highland Cemetery are once again open