Flagpole


The Alan Buttars Show!

	Here get the feel of the Alan Buttars’ Eagle Scout project. It was a formidable task calling for many skills, much planning and coordination, a lot of work, and the employment of heavy equipment. Alan came to the Clinton Engines project because he thought he could contribute something meaningful and lasting for his Eagle project. From the old pole had flown our national flag and the coveted ‘E’ Pennant. We wanted those flags to fly again. Alan said he would get it done. Alan is the son of Blake Buttars, an employee of Guardian Industries glass plant in DeWitt. It was Guardian that generously donated the replacement glass to kick off the entire rebuilding project.



	(L) The old pole may have been gone but the base remained and had to be removed. The new pole would be much stronger than the old one and a new base was required. Trouble was that what was thought to be about a 3’ deep base turned out to be more than 5’ deep, much to the chagrin of Alan and his volunteer diggers. The size of the base also worried Alan. He needed help.


		(R) Problem was this 5’x 5’ concrete & river rock base that tipped the scales at more than 4000 lbs. On standby, Alan had G.L. Stockham,


Inc. heavy equipment crews. First Terry Putnam brought a backhoe to more safely dig down to the bottom of the base. Then Josh Poll came with a forklift and lifted the block out of the hole and move it to the cement area behind the building. The volunteer diggers LOVED this act. It was a sweltering July day.

(L) After the new hole was squared, a couple of older volunteers set up the concrete forms Alan had arranged for with Stockham.

Next came the new flagpole core (R). Stockham set and plumbed the core as it required special equipment. Now ready for the concrete pour- the hard way - by wheelbarrow.

(R) Wheel barrows are easier on lawns than cement trucks, not so with volunteers.

(R) Pouring is complete. Now its curing time.

Then more work. See below images


	Above. Alan and another remove the form pins and take out the base forms.


	Phase 2-3 Flagpole




		Above. Alan and 5 others here rapidly backfill the pit - the hard way - shovels and sweat.

	Back to Project




		Above. New base to hold a 180 mph wind rated flagpole was done

	And Phase 1 was done.


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