Tower Spiral Staircase Support Bracket

This is one of the 49 cast iron tread support brackets installed in 1856 when the present tower was built. Over 150 years the stresses of settlement have caused a few of the weldments to snap.

Modem engineers have determined that the tread supports were overdesigned and the present stair treads are adequately and safely supported by the center iron column with the stair tread ends inserted into the granite blocks making these supports unnecessary.