Maker’s Mark found on the USS Monitor’s Turret

By Joan Wenner, J.D. · Originally published September 2017 · p. 25

Maker’s Mark found on the USS Monitor’s Turret By Joan Wenner, J.D. Newport News, Va.—The Mariners’ Museum and Park is excited to announce the discovery of the very first maker’s mark found in the USS Monitor’s turret. Over a multi-year effort, various portions of the Monitor were recovered and placed in conservation, a process that also involved excavation of larger artifacts such as the turret. Now in the latter stages, conservation involves the finer work designed to eliminate corrosion products and further stabilize the historic vessel’s components. During this more detailed work, unexpected historically significant details have emerged. Beginning in August 2016, conservation staff of the USS Monitor Center began using dry-ice blasting technology to remove corrosion on many large wrought-iron artifacts within the Monitor collection. This work was financed in part with federal funds from the National Park Service through the U.S. Department of the Interior. Among the cleaned artifacts were engine room structural bulkheads, gun slides, and the ironclad’s turret’s forward and aft diagonal support braces. During the dry-ice cleaning, conservators made a remarkable discovery on the aft diagonal brace. As the corrosion flaked off, a maker’s mark was found stamped into the artifact spelling “ULSTER.” Research indicated that Ulster Iron Works was located in Saugerties, Ulster County, N.Y., about 100 miles north of New York City on the Hudson River. According to the 1884 Directory of Iron and Steel Works of the United States, Ulster Iron Works was built in 1827 and had an annual capacity of 6,700 net tons of iron products. During the Civil War, one primary source of its income was U.S. Navy contracts. While this firm was never mentioned as a supplier during the Monitor’s construction at Continental Iron Works, it is now believed that Ulster provided materials for modifications to the ship while it was undergoing sea trials at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The museum is still working on deciphering the lineage of the company. Joan Wenner, J.D. has contributed for many years to the Civil War News and The Artilleryman among other history publications and has a law degree. Comments are welcomed at joan_writer@ yahoo.com