The ASMA Restoration Shop at the Kennedy Mine

The ASMA usually has several restoration and or maintenance projects going at any one time. If you can donate time, expertise, materials, artifacts or dollars towards the preservation of Sierra Nevada Mining, Sawmill and Logging history, please contact us.

Our grateful thanks to our many volunteers and supporters from California to Texas, whose efforts and donations have made this project possible . THANK YOU!

Building the ASMA Restoration Shop

The Amador Sawmill & Mining Association is in the process of building a large restoration shop in the corporation yard at the Kennedy Mine in Jackson, CA. The shop will be used for restoring and maintaining antique equipment that was commonly used in mines like the Kennedy in their day-to-day operations. The Kennedy Mine Foundation and the Amador Sawmill & Mining Association have formed a partnership to reach our common goals: to preserve history, heritage technology, and in many cases to bring the machinery back to a working condition so that it can be operated in exciting live action exhibits for the public to enjoy.

For example, one of the exhibits we are currently working on, is our Fageol Truck Project.

ASMA's first step in building a permanent restoration shop required hours of planning, picking a good site, raising funds, and purchasing a steel building that would meet all requirements. ASMA found and purchased the ideal building which was palleted and delivered by truck onsite to the Kennedy on 1-20-2021. The fund raising is ongoing as there are many stages to developing this project successfully.

Building the Foundation For the Restoration Shop

Down hill from the current Archive Building, a nearly level flat had been built up gradually by the Kennedy Mine from the waste rock of the East Shaft as it was being sunk starting in the late 1890's. This flat had served various purposes for the Kennedy Mine during operations from about 1900 through 1942 when the mine was forced to shut down during WWII.

Stage 1: The flat held many mining artifacts in storage. To begin the shop project required an extensive inventory, including identification of objects, measurements, sketches, and photos thanks to Barbara & Phil Kreiss, and cataloging to the KM Archive database, thanks to archivist Bill Miller. Nearly all the pieces of mining equipment from small square nails, bolts and shims, to giant boilers, steam engines, wheels and more were then moved either to holding areas or went on display. Moved by backhoe and truck, many of the pieces weighed thousands of pounds and also required a crane to lift. While this was ongoing, the steel shop building was researched and ordered by ASMA president Bill Braun as a kit from CBC Steel Buildings, Lathrop, CA and arrived by truck. The assembly plans included 2 large 16' tall bays which would enable large equipment to be moved in and out of the shop for restoration.

Stage 2: Once the area was cleared, stage two of the project included leveling the ground further, taking exacting measurements, digging footings, building forms, and laying an intricate pattern of rebar reinforcing in order for the 60' x 80' shop concrete floor to be poured. Foundation Crew diehard members are shown in the last photo, Left to Right: A special thank you to contractor Roland Cox for layout & forms design, ASMA members Bill Braun, Erik Lander, Phil Kreiss, Dick Hansen. Not shown in crew pic, but seen in "leveling the ground": ASMA members Jim Headd, Bud Lindau & Mel Palmer.

Stage 3: The Big Pour. The 60'x80' concrete slab was poured in one day. ASMA wishes to thank the following companies who worked in a great team effort: primary contractor Micheal Konieczka of Konieczka Concrete, Pine Grove, along with Gold & Sons of Ione. 133 yards of concrete were hauled in by several trucks in 15 loads, each backing up and connecting to a giant cement pumper which placed the flowing concrete exactly where needed. The crews worked fast to smooth the pour as the floor started to take shape.
Time to cure before next stage started, over 30 days.

Erecting the Steel Framework For the Restoration Shop

Stage 4: Once the concrete shop floor was cured and ready, it was time for the steel framework to be erected. a "jig" was designed and built by ASMA crewman Erik Lander to lift the steel rafters for assembly. Additional equipment used, scissors lift, boom truck. The framework for the building slowly took shape. Going forward, the winter weather was not cooperating.

Installing the Exterior of the Restoration Shop

Stage 5: While the steel framework was being erected slowly by the ASMA crew, we were looking for an experienced contractor willing to help finish the frame, walls and to roof the building more quickly than we could, especially with weather threatening. A huge THANK YOU to Fabri-Steel West, Inc. of Sacramento who came to the rescue with a generous donation! They did a fast and excellent job even though a major storm brought us days of rain and even snow. Their professionalism and great crew saved us a great deal of time and effort. Also a big THANK YOU to Al Hyatt for the use of his tele-lift and boom for help in contruction of the framework.

This story will continue... coming soon.

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Help us Build the Restoration Shop! Note this project on your donation under "Special Instructions".

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