by Courthouse Blogger - Brian Baldwin on September 24, 2010
INSERTING THE DECORATIVE METAL INTO THE PREPARED SQUARE
September 24, 2010
By: Brian Baldwin
Jacksonville, FL
Up there in the sky its a …?
Reinhardt has taken quite a few exciting images but these top them all.
According to Reinhardt, he was driving past the New Courthouse hoping to catch a glimpse of something exciting when he caught Spiderman scaling down the building. But we all know that Spiderman does not wear a hard hat and bright orange safety vest.
This fearless construction worker (who probably selected the shortest straw), scaled down the face of the new Duval County Courthouse. For safety, he had at least three noticeable safety lines attached to his harness.
LOOK UP IN THE AIR...
Once he had cleaned the square where the decorative piece was to be attached he signaled his helper who lowered the prefabricated black insert.
It was not noticeable whether the insert was plastic or some other material but it adhered perfectly where he placed it. Click on each photo to enlarge the image. The above photograph shows four of the inserts already in place.
by Courthouse Blogger - Brian Baldwin on September 23, 2010
WORKERS WELD THE CAPS ON THE CENTER FOYER COLUMNS
The final caps of the columns are being installed as we complete this blog. They are very noticeable in the background. By the middle of next week they should all be installed.
No mention has been made when the foyer will have its top installed. In drawings, it is to look like the courthouse only in miniature.
To better understand this image, look at the picture on the upper right corner of this page titled “Some Assembly Required.”
by Courthouse Blogger - Brian Baldwin on September 23, 2010
September 22, 2010
By: Brian Baldwin
Sadly, Justice is leaving the New Duval County Courthouse. Our crack photographer, Reinhardt, captured the exact moment and helped to file this latest report.
MR. JUSTICE EXITS THE GIANT YELLOW CRANE FOR THE FINAL TIME.
For approximately 12 months, a beautiful yellow crane, capable of reaching far above the New Courthouse, has been lifting and moving tons of materials. One man said, “You could put opera music to it and it would be pure magic.” Men (and possibly women) wait high above the ground positioned precariously anticipating the arrival of giant concrete pieces. Some pieces weigh as much as 20 tons. The yellow crane lifts these bone crushing items and delivers then EXACTLY where needed. Best of all, it is done without killing anyone. I never heard of a single smashed finger as a result of a crane operator error.
Amazingly, the crane operator has little or no line of sight to watch what he is doing. Each move has to be choreographed to perfection. On the ground Mr. Justice relies on specialists who bolt (not your mother’s bolts) his crane cables the piece his crane will be lifting. One slip up and someone life may be in jeopardy.
MR. JUSTICE MANEUVERS A GIANT COLUMN BETWEEN FOUR MEN
Reinhardt told me a very interesting story regarding the yellow crane. “One evening I was standing just outside the gates of the courthouse with my camera in hand. All of a sudden I saw the man operating the crane step down from his command center and begin walking toward me. He was carrying a cooler and wearing his white construction hat. When he finally crossed my path I asked him if he were the crane operator. When he nodded his head as to say yes, I told him he was my idol and added that I had watched him for months dancing items in the sky to their final resting place.
I felt like a paparazzi when I finally asked him if I could take his photograph. He agreed and just for copyright sake I asked his name and phone number – He said, JUSTICE - Ricky Justice. I kind of giggled but he did not find it funny. I have a long drive – make it quick, he said.”
MR. RICKY JUSTICE, CRANE OPERATOR
Thus, Justice is leaving the courthouse. He (not she – LADY JUSTICE) has finished his work with the giant yellow crane and was responsible for placing nearly all of the exterior skin on the front of the courthouse. Job well done!
by Courthouse Blogger - Brian Baldwin on September 1, 2010
August 30, 2010 Facade Nearing Completion
September 1, 2010
Number 19 – Downtown Artwalk Location
Join us tonight along with over 3000 people at the Haydon Burns Library (Original site of Duval County’s 1903 Courthouse), 122 N. Ocean Street, Jacksonville, Florida, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. for Joseph Miller’s exhibit of colossal Courthouse photographic images. These breathtaking closeups have been selected from a catalog of over 10,000 taken over the past year and a half. These images historically document the courthouse construction.
Brought to you by The Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A., and the Jacksonville Observer.
Wine and light snacks will be provided.
For more information on the upcoming Courthouse Coffee Table Book (appx. 375 pages), send an email to: JaxHistory@gmail.com.
