Giving Back… Historic Jackson Rooming House – Part 2

There has been a new addition to the Jackson House family. Last month, Mr. Robinson was investigating a strange sound coming from under the house when he came across a puppy he described as “thinner than skin and bones.” He pulled the malnourished animal from under the house and sought out a veterinarian. To Mr. Robinson’s surprise, the vet gave the puppy a clean bill of health. The puppy just needed food, water, and love. The vet also gave Mr. Robinson the following words of wisdom: “You didn’t find this puppy. This puppy found you!” With that, Mr. Robinson took the puppy home and cared for it. Mr. Robinson has named her Bright Eyes for obvious reasons. Bright Eyes has been dubbed the “House Mascot” and you can find her sitting next to Mr. Robinson on the porch or close behind him as he walks from room to room.

I would also like to extend a big “Thank You” to everyone already involved in this project and to those who have offered their assistance. The rescue and restoration of the Jackson House promises to offer several challenges and opportunities to give everyone a chance to contribute.

For more information on restoring your historic structure, or to learn more about historic restorations, please feel free to contact Matthew Depin, EI at: mdepin@brackenengineering.com

It's not rocket science... Weight of Ships v. Weight of Water?

Question: Did the Magdeburg Water Bridge have to be designed to withstand the additional weight of ship?

"Non-Engineer" Answer: No

Explanation: The Magdeburg Water Bridge only needed to be designed to support the weight of the water because a ship will displace an amount of water equal to the weight of the ship, regardless of how heavily a ship may be loaded.

Commentary: The Magdeburg Water Bridge is a navigable aqueduct in Germany that connects the Elbe-Havel Canal to the Mittelland Canal, and allows ships to cross over the Elbe River. At 918 meters, it is the longest navigable aqueduct in the world. Construction of the water link was started as early as in the 1930s but due to the World War 2 and subsequent division of Germany the work remained suspended till 1997. The aqueduct was finally completed and opened to the public in 2003.