JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
After undergoing a spring cleaning, the exterior of the Main Post Chapel at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston has a cleaner, fresher look to it for visitors, worshippers and military members who utilize the historic structure.
The project to clean the outside of the chapel, which was dedicated in 1909 by President William Howard Taft, was conducted April 23-27 by a contractor under the supervision of the 502nd Civil Engineering Squadron.
Alan White, 502nd CES architect/cultural resource manager at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, said the process for cleaning the exterior of the Main Post Chapel was initiated following a work order submitted by the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston chaplain’s office to the 502nd CES.
White said a steam cleaning method, which includes the application of water and steam and scrubbing with a soft bristle brush, was used to clean the chapel’s exterior following guidelines for the cleaning of historic masonry buildings by the U.S. Department of Interior and the National Park Service.
The Main Post Chapel, also called the Gift Chapel, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and its masonry is composed of brick and limestone.
White said the chapel’s exterior needed a cleaning because the last time it was cleaned was approximately 20 years ago. He said over time dirt, pollution, organic material and a black mold that was noticeable on the building had accumulated and settled on the chapel’s exterior, which can speed up the deterioration of masonry and stone.
“Proper periodic cleaning of masonry is an essential step in preserving this historic building,” White said. “It allows years of dirt, pollutants and organic material to be removed from the building, which if done properly, can extend the building’s life and longevity.”
He said the steam cleaning method was the least invasive cleaning method used for the exterior of the chapel that preserved the structure’s historical character.
The steam cleaning method was selected to clean the chapel after a test conducted by the 502nd CES in January showed it provided the best results of the three cleaning methods tested. During that test, each cleaning method was used on a small area of the exterior masonry in the back of the chapel.
White said having a cleaner looking exterior will give visitors, worshippers and service members a good first impression as they enter the chapel.
“The first thing you see is the outside,” he said. “It builds your expectations of what you expect to see inside.”
When it was completed in 1909, the Main Post Chapel was the first permanent religious building constructed at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. The structure is also known as the Gift Chapel because the city of San Antonio donated the property for the building and community leaders and military personnel donated funds for its construction.
The chapel hosts several activities during the year, including daily religious services of various faiths, as well as special religious events, memorial services, weddings, funerals, Bible study groups and choir practices.
“This building is an icon,” White said. “By maintaining our historic structures, it shows the entire community that we value our military history and the Soldiers who in turn have served this country. This building is a testament to the close relationship we have between JBSA and the people of San Antonio. By maintaining this structure, it helps tell that story for us and future generations.”