Sixteenth Street Bridge Historic Lamp Standards

Years ago the cast iron Lamp Standards that graced the Sixteenth Street Bridge were removed. They never made it back atop their plinths on the Bridge’s beautifully articulated stone railing. Eventually it was decided they should be replicated. A local firm, Chesapeake Electrical was chosen as the contractor and they in turn chose Robinson Iron and its team of expert craftsmen to do the job.

Working with an archival copy of the original elevation drawing, designer Wayne Fuller rendered in pencil each classically inspired detail. Beginning with the base every scaled component had to be fully developed as an interlocking casting complete with decorative details. Using these renderings wooden patterns were made and through the time honored technique of “green sand molding” the various pieces were cast in iron.

Over 2,000 man hours were required to complete the 29 patterns used to cast these posts. Three hundred man hours were required for the drawings as well as four hundred hours for the fabrication. Each post weighs 4,200 lbs. and stands sixteen feet in height. We think you’ll agree they are a Beaux Arts celebration in every detail.

The New Cast Iron Posts Installed on their Plinths

Elevation of Post

Egg and Dart Detail at Post Base

Detail at Top of Post