THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 4, 1995 TAG: 9508020175
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
Scraps of granite from the nation's first drydock, which opened in June 1833 at the Naval Ship-yard, have been turned into 500 limited edition paperweights to raise money to restore historic grave markers in city cemeteries.
The granite was saved by former Portsmouth Mayor Barnabas Baker, who donated it to the project spearheaded by retired Army Brig. Gen. Hank Morris, commander of the Stonewall Jackson Camp 380 of Sons of Confederate Veterans. Morris had metal photographs made of the hull of the Merrimac being converted to the ironclad CSS Virginia in Drydock No. 1, which is still in use today at the shipyard.
The paperweight may be purchased for a $20 donation to the Preservation Fund plus $5 for shipping and handling. They are available from Miss Pittypat's Flower and Gift Shoppe, 501 High St. Call 1-800-748-7921. ILLUSTRATION: The granite paperweight is a fund-raiser to restore grave
markers.
by CNB