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The completion of this heritage record of the fort, combined
with various condition assessments, represents the first time
that accurate numbers could be produced for quantities of
stones, windows, rafters and other specific elements of the fort.
Various conservation professionals will have access to the
documentation when needed for future projects. Before this
record was generated, information users would have to produce
their own drawings. In certain cases, the heritage record may
not be precise or detailed enough for a specific area, but will
provide a base from which to produce the required drawings.
Feedback was provided by the Project Manager regarding the
overall usefulness of the heritage record. It was noted that the
heritage record has not yet been fully utilized, however, the
recording of the Commissariat Stores roof is currently being
used by a consultant who is designing a new roof and repair
measures. The consultant stated that the recording was very
useful and detailed. The Project Manager also noted that the
heritage recording for the Redoubt will also be used by a
consultant in the near future for the design of stabilization
measures. The heritage recording products were created to
establish a reference point of the fort in its current state.
Another major use of the products will be realized when the
masonry stabilization phase of the project is implemented.
6. TRAINING
The Fort Flenry NHSC rehabilitation project presented an
opportunity to add a valuable training component to the
recording process. In recent years, HCS has replaced many of
its retiring senior staff through succession planning. Although
joining HCS with impressive academic credentials and
experience, few of the newly hired conservation architects and
engineers had heritage recording exposure. To address this
situation six new employees participated in the Fort Henry
NHSC heritage recording field work for approximately 1.5 days
each. All were given instruction as to why the heritage
recording was being carried out, what the recording methods
and tools were, and how the recording would provide basic but
essential documentation resources to the rehabilitation project.
With this new knowledge they were given individual
instruction on how to use the recording equipment and then
asked to participate in the actual recording. Their heritage
records became part of the project recording deliverables. The
purpose of this exercise was not to train architects and
engineers to become heritage recorders, but rather to educate
these individuals about the potential benefits heritage recording
services may offer future conservation projects.
7. LESSONS LEARNED
The exercise of sharing information between information users
and information providers was a valuable experience for the
information users and it proved to be an important lesson for the
information providers as well. The approach taken will help the
heritage recording team make better decisions in future
projects, when selecting documentation techniques and
determining deliverables, by providing a better understanding
of information user requirements. This positive outcome was
achieved by open dialogue and collaboration with the identified
information users throughout the Fort Henry rehabilitation
project. As a final point, it was also interesting for the
recording team to note how the heritage record benefited
various users in their project delivery, and often in ways that
was not initially expected.
The Fort Henry Conservation Project has proven that
collaboration between information users and providers may
provide a value-added component to a complex restoration
project. Furthermore, it is proving to be an excellent starting
document to be used by various players involved in the
rehabilitation of the Fort Henry NHSC.
REFERENCES
Heritage Conservation Services, 2003, Fort Henry N.H.S.C.
Redoubt Exterior Conservation Guidelines (DRAFT)
Parks Canada, 2002, Fort Henry Conservation Program -
Project Charter (DRAFT), Canada
'i
Parks Canada, 2003, Fort Henry National Historic Site of
Canada, Consultation to Prepare a Management Plan, Canada
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to express their sincere gratitude to the
following individuals for their contribution in the execution of
the Fort Henry recording project or towards the development of
this paper: J-P. Jerome, P. Sawyer, J. Gregg, R. Mitchell, B.
Prins, K. Elder, B. Kirkhope, D. Duchesne, I. Cameron, J.
Grenville, S. Filion, B. Warren, P. Buchik.
