National Park Service 

U.S. Departmentofffle Interior 

Techlncal Preservation Services 

Preservation 

Tech Notes 

METALS 

NUMBER6 

Repair and 

Reproduction of Metal 

Canopies and Marquees 

with Glass Pendants 

Lauren Van Damme 

Technical Preservation Services 

National Park Service 

Charles E. Fisher 

Technical Preservation Services 

National Park Service 

Deteriorated metal canopies 

with glass pendants should 

be maintained and repaired. 

In the event replacement 

is necessary, a new canopy 

should match the historic one 

being replaced in design, size, 

configuration, and detail. 

ALDRIDGE HOTEL 

Shawnee, Oklahoma 

Introduction 

With the Industrial Revolution, 

decorative metal canopies became 

a distinctive and popular form of a 

covered entrance for hotels, theaters, 

and large apartment, office, retail, and 

institutional buildings. They even 

appeared on upscale residences. 

The structure of a metal canopy typically was iron, steel, wood, or a combination thereof. Attached to a building 

through beams set perpendicular into 

the exterior wall, the canopy was often 

supported in part by either vertical 

posts or overhead cables attached to 

the building. In its most basic form, a 

metal canopy consisted of an exposed 

metal structure with a roof and little 

or no ornamentation. However, it was 

more common to embellish the canopy 

with ornamentation and to provide more 

massing through the use of side panels. 

These side panels were made out of 

steel, zinc, copper, bronze, or cast iron. 

To further enhance the prominence of a 

canopy by adding to the mass without 

significantly increasing the weight, 

hanging pendants made entirely of 

metal were often added along the perimeter of the canopy. Solid metal pendants 

soon gave way in popularity to glass 

pendants, which consisted of a series 

of glass panes held in place by metal 

frames. Pendants came in a variety of 

patterns with many that mimicked the 

valances of the then popular canvas 

awning. In the late nineteenth and early 

twentieth centuries, this decorative 

feature helped characterize numerous 

metal canopies and marquees across the 

country. 

Many older metal canopies with glass 

pendants have been lost due to buildi ng 

demolition, facade "enhancements," or 

neglect. Some have been so altered 

that only the original skeletal framework remains, covered over with a 

contemporary skin. Even on those 

that have survived, the glass pendants 

are often in poor condition because of 

their typical lightweight construction, 

the ease by which this hanging featu re 

could be damaged, and the general lack 

of proper maintenance. 

In recent years, there has been an 

increased effort to preserve surviving 

glass pendant canopies and in some 

cases even to reconstruct missing 

ones. This has come at a time when the 
design of contemporary metal canopies 

for new construction has often drawn 

upon the form and expression of these 

earlier ones. In working with historic 

canopies, it is important to understand 

that mechanisms of deterioration and 

repair approaches are very different, 

depending on the materials involved 

and whether the metal components are 

cast or sheet metal. 

The recent rehabilitation of the historic 

Aldridge Hotel in Shawnee, Oklahoma, 

provides a good example of both 

how to repair an old glass pendant 

metal canopy and how to replicate a 

missing one. 

Background 

The Aldridge Hotel (originally the 

Hilton Phillips Hotel) was known 

as Shawnee's "first real skyscraper." 

Completed in 1929, the I 0-story 

Neoclassical Revival building served 

as the city's premier hotel for many 

years. The hotel began to decline in 

the 1970s and was eventually used as a 

low-rent apartment/hotel facility before 

closing in 1994. ln the years immediately following, the vacant building fell 

into further disrepair, suffering fires 

and vandalism. 

In 2000, the Aldridge Hotel was listed 

in the National Register of Historic 

Places. ERC Properties of Fort Smith, 

Arkansas, acquired the property and 

undertook a rehabilitation that began in 

2003 , converting the hotel to affordable 

Figure 2. The underside of the main canopy's left 

corner, showing damage to copper pendant frames 

and missing glass. 

7. 

housing, utilizing 

the Federal Historic 

Preservation Tax 

Credits. At the start 

of the rehab ii itation, 

one of the hotel's 

two original copper 

entrance canopies 

had survived. The 

developer decided 

to repair the existing 

canopy and replicate 

the missing one, helping to preserve and 

recapture the historic 

grandeur of the 

building's entrances. 

Figure I. The Aldridge Hotel's south main entrance canopy as it existed 

at the start of the building's rehabilitation. 

SOUTH MAIN 

ENTRANCE CANOPY 

The south main entrance canopy 

included a center coffer shape that 

followed the contour of the top of the 

entranceway to the building. Anchored 

to the building with steel I-beams and 

aided by the support of two cables from 

above, the metal and wood structure 

was encased with copper. The perimeter of the canopy consisted of a row 

of copper panels and molding trim, 

beneath which a row of glass pendants 

was attached. 

Problem 

By the time the rehabilitation work 

began, the main entrance canopy had 

suffered years of neglect and decay 

(see figure I). The entire canopy 

had been painted green, masking the 

structure's original patina, ornate 

stamped ceiling, and colored glass 

pendants. Since the canopy was 

encased in copper, it was not possible 

to visually establish the condition of 

its internal structure. However, it was 

evident that the glass pendants located 

at the corners and along the sides were 

either missing or cracked. The pendant 

frames were also bent, twisted, or 

broken off (see figure 2). 

The project manager for the building 

rehabilitation understood that finding an experienced metal contractor 

capable of doing the work was critical 

to the project's success. Given the 

specialized nature of the work, the 

project manager searched for an experienced metal contractor and obtained 

references from an ornamental sheet 

metal supplier. Such suppliers or even 

ornamental sheet metal manufacturers are knowledgeable of the craft 

skill needed for such work and can 

recommend experienced companies. A 

roofing and sheet metal company out 

of Oklahoma City was selected for the 

project work. 

Solution 

The initial task of the sheet metal 

contractor was to establish the condition of the canopy and determine what 

could be repaired and what needed 

to be replaced. The contractor began 

by surveying the copper cladding that 

covered the roof, sides and underside 

of the canopy structure. Since paint 

was covering the copper cladding, 

the decision was made to remove the 

non-historic paint to allow for a more 

thorough condition assessment. 

Upon removal of the paint, it was evident that the archway and canopy roof 

were in sound condition. Ferrous armatures and attachments were inspected 

for rust since copper sheet is cathodic 

to iron. Approximately 40% of the 

glass pendant frames located along the 

canopy's sides required replacement 

and the canopy's galvanized metal 

ceiling needed to be repaired. It was 

also decided that all the glass panes 

would need to be replaced in order to 
(D glass panel det.all ~ .,..,_.,. 

meet code, as the existing glass was 

not tempered. Because of the extent of 

needed repa irs, both the left and right 

corners and side sections, along with 

the ceiling panels, were completely dismantled and taken to the contractor's 

shop. Upon removal of these sections, 

it was discovered that the wood frame 

to which the copper was attached had 

rotted as a result of water seepage and 

needed to be replaced. 

After transporting the dismantled 

canopy sections back to the shop, the 

sheet metal contractor took measurements of the existing pendants that 

were in good condition. Along with 

the canopy's original drawings, these 

measurements were used to create a 

pattern for the needed replacements. 

The design for the pendant, measuring 

7 1/4" x 7 1/4" and made of 16 oz. 

copper, resembled a picture frame. At 

the bottom of the frame, a U-shaped 

channel provided a bottom receiver for 

the glass to help hold it in place. An 

extended U-channel was used along the 

top, providing extra room so the glass 

pane could slide up out of the bottom 

channel for replacement when broken. 

Affixed to the backside of the frame 

were four 1/2" copper clips, two on 

Figure 3. Details of the proposed replacement pendant 

frame, including how the pendant glass was to be 

installed. Drawing: The Hill Firm. 

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Figure 4. Original drawing for the main south entrance 

canopy for the Hilton Philips Hotel, later named the Aldridge Hotel. Note the lettering along the front glass panes. 

Drawing: Courtesy of the Hill Firm. 

each vertical side, which when folded 

over the glass, helped secure the lights 

in place (see.figure 3). 

After cutting and shaping the metal 

pieces, the new pendant frame was soldered together. Each frame was then 

soldered to the dividing posts between 

each pendant. These l" square copper 

posts served as the connector between 

each pendant and provided structural 

strength for the row of glass pendants. 

At the top of each pendant frame, the 

metal sides included a flange at the 

upper end that enabled it to be affixed 

with screws to the underside of the 

canopy. An additional section of copper panned over the flanges provided 

for a weather tight seal. 

In addition to creating replacement 

frames for the broken and missing 

glass pendants, repairs were made to 

the existing copper cladding covering 

the canopy frame. The contractor 

straightened out copper that had been 

bent or twisted. New copper pieces 

were sleeved over damaged pieces or 

made to span missing portions, and 

then were soldered in place. Copper 

pop rivets were used to attach pieces 

where sleeving was not practical. To 

prevent future water leakage and damage, considerable overlapping of panels 

and trim of the copper cladding was 

necessary. 

Once the corner and side sections had 

been transported back to the building 

and reattached to the main canopy, 

the next and final step in repairing 

the canopy was the replacement of 

the pendants' glass panes. For the 

necessary re-glazing, the sheet metal 

contractor brought in a glass company. 

The old glass panes were removed by 

hand and replaced with tempered glass 

panes. Those along the coffered ceiling required special cutting on a radius. 

To install the new panes, a bead of 

clear silicone sealant was applied in 

the top and bottom of the metal frame, 

helping to secure the glass and prevent 

it from rattling in heavy winds. The 

glass was then slid into the top receiver 

and set into the bottom. The side tabs 

located on the back of the pendant 

frame were folded over to secure the 

glass. Since the original drawings 

showed the building's name painted 

on the back of the glass panes, this 

signage was recreated with the current 

name, the Aldridge Hotel (see.figure 4). 

3 
4 

Zinc and Galvanized Steel Canopies and Marquees 

Canopies and marquees covered with zinc 

or galvanized steel were common in the 

early twentieth century. Stamped metal 

pieces and ornament were advertised in 

numerous manufacturers' trade catalogues. 

Local sheet metal fabricators could purchase 

the decorative pieces and incorporate them 

into the sides and ceilings of canopies being 

designed for specific buildings. The roofs 

would be covered in metal or assembled 

with large glass panels to provide natural 

light to pedestrians below. 

Ornamental glass pendant frames came in 

two general types, single or double faced. 

Single-faced pendants were similar to the 

Aldridge Hotel's copper pendants in that 

the backside was "open," allowing the glass 

to be easily repaired. Yet many zinc and 

galvanized steel pendants were doublefaced, with matching front and back sections 

soldered together along the edge. The glass 

was sandwiched in-between. 

Figure a. Rust, paint failure, open joints, broken glass, or damaged and missing sections are 

indications that pendant frames are in need of repair. 

Of particular interest in undertaking repairs 

is that the face of larger individual frames 

often were not stamped out as a single 

unit. Rather a stamped face as supplied by 

the manufacturer consisted of the left and 

right halves of two adjacent pendants. The 

joint where two single-faced pendant frame 

pieces were soldered together to create a 

full pendant (and halves of two adjacent 

pendants) is usually evident upon close 

examination. On smaller frames, a single 

stamped piece could include two or more 

complete pendant faces. 

When working with historic glass pendants, 

it is important to ascertain how they were 

assembled and attached to the canopy. 

Just as the copper pendants described in 

this Tech Note, galvanized steel and zinc 

pendant frames often were attached to the 

canopy with screws through a nange on the 

top of each pendant frame. Yet there are 

numerous other ways the pendants were 

attached. One method invol ved setting the 

pendants so that just the horizontal part of 

the pendant frame at the top was aligned 

against the side of the canopy at the lower 

edge. This allowed for the pendants to be 

attached to the canopy with a screw through 

the top outside face of the pendant rather 

than through a flange . A simple trim piece 

would then be attached, running along the 

length of the top edge of the pendants so as 

to provide for a weather tight eal. Another 

method of attachment 

involved a lock seam 

fonned by the sheet 

metal covering the lower 

edge of the box frame. 

This continuous seam 

would run horizontally 

at the location where the 

pendant frames were to 

be attached. The flanges 

at the top of the glass 

pendant frames would be 

folded and then slipped 

into this horizontal 

lock seam, securing the 

pendants to the canopy. Figure b. In this double-faced pendant, the soldered joint on the outer face has failed where two adjacent pendant halves are connected. 

How to remove a section of the pendant for 

shop repairs depends, in part, on the way 

the pendants are attached to the canopy. 

It is necessary first to remove, if present, 

the long metal cap or trim piece covering 

the top edge of the pendant frame. If the 

pendant frames are attached with screws to 

the canopy, the screws need to be removed. 

Some unsoldering of existing connections 

will be necessary as well. 

Rust, paint failure, open joints, broken 

glass, or damaged and missing sections 

are indications that pendant frames are in 

need of repair. When the pendant frame 

is in reasonably good condition, it may be 

pos ible to make necessary repairs on-site. 

Where more extensive deterioration has 

occurred or where the wood substructure has 

deteriorated, sections of the canopy usually 

are removed and taken to a shop for repair 

or replacement work. 

Rust: It is not uncommon for rust to appear 

on galvanized steel pendants. This occurs 

where the coating has failed, typically at 

failed joints or where the pendants have 

been damaged. The rust should be removed 

and the metal coated with a zinc oxide 

primer and then repainted. 

Paint failure: When more extensive repairs 

are needed or where the paint is heavily 

built-up or failing, it may be necessary 
Figure c. Broken glass in single-faced pendants can be easily replaced 

from the back side, where the glass is held in place by metal tabs, as 

shown above, or by glazing putty. 

to remove the paint, after first recording 

the historic paint colors. Besides taking 

appropriate precautions for the presence 

of lead paint, care should be taken to 

minimize damage to the old galvanized 

coating and the metal itself. Any method 

of paint removal that is being considered 

should first be tested on the canopy at an 

inconspicuous location and an assessment 

made as to whether it is the least damaging 

method. Mechanical and chemical removal 

techniques cause particular problems for 

zinc sheet stampings. (Zinc is not resistant 

to acidic or strong alkaline solutions.) Both 

stamped zinc and galvanized steel should be 

repainted. 

Open joints: Metal joints connect individual pieces of the pendant frame. Where 

joints have opened up, water can seep inside 

and cause eventual rusting of the galvanized 

steel. In colder climates, metal deformation 

can occur from water freezing and expanding within the frame. Open joints should 

be cleaned, aligned, and re-soldered rather 

than simply filling voids with caulk or other 

sealants. 

Broken or missing glass: Glass breakage 

can result from stones and other airborne 

objects; deformation in the pendant frame 

from entrapped moisture that freezes and 

thaws; and impact from tall service vehicles 

or mechanical lifts. Glass in pendant frames 

that are open in the back are the easiest to 

replace since they are secured by exposed 

metal tabs. For most double-faced pendant 

frames, the glass originally was installed 

as the frame was soldered together. The 

recommended procedure is to detach the 

individual pendant frame from the canopy 

and unsolder the connection with adjacent 

pendants. This allows 

for the individual pendant to be taken down, 

the old glass removed 

and measured, and new 

glass installed. With 

some pendants, the 

removal of individual 

ones is problematic 

and it may be possible 

Lo undertake the work 

in place. Alternately, 

it may be necessary to 

remove one or more 

pendants and replace 

them with new ones. 

This is often the case with frames made of 

stamped zinc sheet. Where numerous glass 

pendants are cracked or missing, an entire 

row of pendants may be removed and the 

necessary glass replacement undertaken in a 

shop facility. 

Deteriorated, damaged or missing 

pendant frames: Depending upon their 

condition, it may be possible to remove old 

galvanized sheet metal elements to make 

repairs in the field or shop. Old stamped 

zinc is more difficult to repair. Long-term 

exposure to acid rain leads to deterioration, 

resulting in the zinc sheet being thinned and 

perforated. This tends to occur where water 

ponds, such as the bottom of the pendant 

frame. While new zinc sheet stampings 

may be bent or molded as needed to install, 

existing zinc stampings generally fatigue 

and fracture with a small amount of movement. As a result, when zinc pendant frames 

cannot be repaired in place, it usually will 

be necessary to replace them with new ones. 

Where sections of the pendant frame are 

damaged or beyond repair, there are a 

number of possible steps that can be taken 

to correct this condition. Some of the old 

patterns of metal pendant frames are still 

manufactured so new matching replacement 

pieces may be available. Where various pendants are missing or damaged and matching 

new pieces are not available, it may be possible to purchase a similar pattern and group 

the new pieces on the sides back toward 

the building. Another alternative that works 

with some matching double-faced pendants 

is to scavenge needed sections by removing 

the backs of existing ones and using them 

to complete the row of pendants. With this 

approach, metal tabs like those used at the 

Aldridge Hotel would need to be attached 

to the backside to secure the glass in place. 

A clear sealant may also be needed. If only 

a few sections of a metal pendant frame are 

missing, the removal and reuse of the end 

pendants on each side closest to the building 

is the most practical solution. 

Figure d. Typical deteriorated conditions on 

pressed, galvanized metal pendants can include broken or missing glass (top); broken or 

misaligned elements (middle); and rust along 

the bottom of the pendant frames where water 

has collected (bottom). These conditions can 

usually be repaired. 

5 
History of Decorative 

Glass Pendants 

Early examples of decorative pendants date back 

to the mid-nineteenth century. Pendants originally were made of cast-metal fran1es with metal 

panels and were used for a number of decorative 

purposes, as illustrated in the 1882 lllustrated 

Catalogue of Macfarlane 's Castings (see illustration). The use of solid metal "drops" eventually 

extended beyond bandstands and window hoods 

and began to appear on the perimeter of entrance 

canopies. 

While solid metal drops first appeared on canopies, glass pendants became almost a standard 

feature by the tum of the century. Clear glass 

was the predominate choice, but colored glass 

was used as well to enhance, for example, the 

marquees of early movie houses. Wire glass also 

was used because of its durability and shatterresistance, making it a common selection for 

highly trafficked downtown areas. 

The popularity of glass pendants in the early 

twentieth century also coincided with the 

increasing use of commercial lighting on 

buildings. Soon the electric light bulb was being 

added to metal canopies either to simply enhance 

the basic lighting at the entrance to a building or 

to attract customers inside. On department stores 

and other retail buildings, it was not uncommon 

to find a row of light bulbs set directly behind a 

row of pendants, with each light centered on a 

glass pane. 

The 1882 Macfarlane's catalog shows various uses of solid metal pendants as embellishments 

on coverings, such as garden shelters (bottom). A variety of stamped metal pendant styles 

shown in this tum-of-the-century manufacturer's catalog are still available today for repair 

and replacement work (top). Courtesy ofW. F. Norman Corporation (top). Courtesy of 

Historical Arts and Castings, Inc (bottom). 

Glass pendant frames were popularized and typically marketed in the trade catalogues of architectural sheet metal manufacturers. Some catalogs 

featured drawings or photographs of completed 

canopies and marquees while others depicted 

individual pendant styles that were available. A 

variety of pendant styles are found in a tum-of-the 

century catalog of the Miller & Doing Company, 

Brooklyn, New York (see illustration). This 

catalog featured over 20 glass pendant frames, 

ranging in height from 5 to 16 1/2 inches. Many of 

the old Miller and Doing's sheet metal ornaments, 

including the glass pendant frames, are produced 

today by the W. F. Norman Corporation. 

EAST ENTRANCE 

CANOPY 

Problem 

While a simple shed canopy existed 

at the east entrance at the start of the 

building rehabilitation, it was poorly 

constructed and in deteriorated condition (see.figure 5). Physical evidence 

of the original canopy fortunately had 

survived. The pockets remained in 

the masonry wall that once carried 

the supporting beams and the historic 

overhead cables and anchors still were 

in use. The flat roof! ine of the original 

canopy clearly was evident against 

the building, cutting right below the 

transom over the doors. Furthermore, 

ghost marks on the brick wall helped to 

establish the height of the box canopy 

frame. 

6 

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Historic photographs of the original 

canopy confirmed that it was flat 

shaped, unlike the one at the main 

entrance. They also showed that 

glass pendants were hung below the 

metal panels. While there was enough 

information from the physical evidence 

and pictorial records to recreate the 

canopy, this project benefited from the 

existence of the historic south main 

canopy and the original drawings of the 

south canopy. Based on the available 

information, the project team decided 

to recreate the original canopy design. 

16 oz. copper was used along the top and 

sides. To match the patina of the existing canopy on the main entrance, the 

new canopy was chemically treated. 

Solution 

The new canopy consisted of a metal 

sub-frame, upon which a wood frame 

made of exterior grade plywood was 

attached . For the canopy cladding, 

Figure 5. The east cano1>y entrance prior to 

the fabrication of its replacement. The original canopy had been replaced long ago with a 

simple covering that had deteriorated as well. 
Iron, Steel, and 

Bronze Canopies 

Canopies fabricated of cast iron 

predate the more common stampedmetal and sheet-metal covered ones. 

Canopies made largely of cast iron, 

and later bronze and steel, continued 

in use throughout the popular era of 

the glass pendants. 

As with sheet metal and stamped 

metal canopies, those made primarily of cast iron, bronze or steel were 

embellished with a variety of glass 

pendant styles. The cast-metal pendant frames tended to be thicker 

than sheet metal and often they were single-faced with an open 

back. Because the frames were thick, glass in single-faced pendants 

could simply be set in place using glazing putty on the backside. 

This glazing technique allowed for easy on-site glass replacement. 

The beveled putty edge would be painted the same color as the 

frame so as to be inconspicuous. 

With the simple double-faced pendant frames on the left, the front and back faces are screwed directly to 

each other as indicated by arrows. The pendants on the right are single faced with the glass held in place by 

putty. Each pendant is secured to the top of the canopy and to adjacent pendants. Screw connections are 

indicated by arrows. 

Other cast pendants consisted of two faces, the outer one often 

thicker than the one attached to the back. The back face helped to 

secure the glass in place and provided for a finished appearance. The 

back face was usually attached to the front with machine screws. 

A canopy with glass pendants often consisted of individual pendant 

frames that were assembled in a row by connecting each pendant 

frame to an adjacent one and as well as connecting each to the 

canopy frame at the lop. One common method of assembly involved 

three connections, one at the top of the pendant frame, usually on 

the backside, through which a screw was set, securing the pendant 

to the canopy frame. The other two consisted of flanges located one 

each on the two sides of the pendant frame, which were screwed to 

corresponding connectors on adjacent pendant frames. Steel frames 

could also be welded to each other. 

Some pendant frames may have fewer connections because they 

were cast in larger units, such as four pendants in a row. Canopies 

with a coffered shape were the most complicated to assemble 

because of the graduated size of the glass pendants. This necessitated numerous sizes of individual pendants be used. 

Cast pendant frames are sturdier than those of sheet metal and tend 

to be in better condition today. Cast-iron and steel canopies need 

regular painting to deter rust. Zinc rich primers are usually applied 

to cast iron. A high build epoxy can then be used followed by two 

coats of a polyurethane finish. Bronze canopies were often left to 

patinate naturally. Today, they are sometimes coated with an acrylic 

urethane or a lacquer formulated for copper alloys. 

Methods of cleaning and repair will vary according to the type 

of material involved-cast iron, bronze or steel. In reproducing a 

historic canopy or making extensive repairs to one that has been 

damaged, new pendant frames can be cast to match existing ones 

using in-kind material and traditional techniques. Alternatively, 

aluminum is commonly used today as a substitute material for cast 

iron in making repairs requiring replacement pieces and to reproduce missing cast-iron and steel canopies. 

For the ceiling underneath the canopy, 

stamped zinc-coated steel panels and 

trim were obtained from a company 

still manufacturing traditional designs. 

In fabricating the new glass pendants, 

the same 7 1/4" x 7 1/4" pattern 

found on the main entrance was used. 

During installation of the new canopy, 

plywood squares were used as placeholders for the new glass, which was 

not installed until after the canopy had 

been secured to the masonry wall. 

the structure safely to the building. 

The contractor then used a lift to set 

the canopy into place (see figure 6). 

The entire process had to be handled 

with care, given the vulnerability of 

the canopy's soft copper skin and the 

hanging pendant frames. 

Evaluation 

The greatest challenge in recreating the 

missing canopy came about during its 

installation. Since the entire canopy 

had been fabricated in the shop, a 

special crate was made to transport 

The canopy work at the Aldridge Hotel 

was successful in both repairing the 

historic main entrance canopy and 

replicating a missing one at the other 

entrance to the building (see figure 7). 

The glass pendants with electric lighting behind are once again a distinctive 

feature of both entrances. 

Figure 6. The installation of the new canopy 

required the use of a Sky Track and a special 

harness to ensure the protection of the copper 

frame. Photo courtesy of Thad Jennings, 

JENCO Roofing & Sheet Metal. 

7 
[n undertaking the repair work, it 

was recognized early on that due to 

the extent of damage to the corner 

pendants, this part of the work was best 

undertaken in a shop rather than at the 

site. Understanding how the canopy 

was originally assembled allowed the 

contractor to remove only the most 

damaged areas, while making other 

repairs with the canopy in place. By 

not removing the historic canopy as a 

whole, the contractor eliminated the 

potential damage that could be caused 

in shipment and re-installation. 

It took almost four months to complete 

both the repair to the historic canopy 

and replication of the missing one. 

This was due in part to the nature of 

the fabrication and also that the job site 

was a one hour drive from the shop. 

As with most sheet metal canopies, 

those at the Aldridge Hotel were 

assembled from many pieces of sheet 

metal that were soldered, mechanically 

fastened or otherwise attached. Such 

work required craftsmanship and time 

to complete. 

Conclusion 

The glass pendants on the canopies 

of the Aldridge Hotel represent one 

of numerous types and styles that can 

be found on historic canopies and 

marquees. Depending on whether they 

are framed in a cast metal or in sheet 

copper, zinc, or galvanized steel, each 

type will have specific conservation 

requirements due in part to the materials involved. The specific style of a 

glass pendant will also affect decisions 

concerning repair and replication. 

Some old patterns are still available 

today while others are affordable to 

reproduce. The pendant style will 

influence the ease by which they can 

be maintained. Single-faced pendant 

frames are the easiest to maintain, 

especially in the case of broken glass. 

For double-faced pendant frames, 

ascertaining how they were assembled 

is critical to undertaking successful 

maintenance work. Specific maintenance and repairs will be affected by 

how the original pendants were joined 

together and the glass installed. 

Traditionally located at main entrances, 

metal canopies with glass pendants are 

a distinctive feature on historic buildings and should be preserved. 

Figure 7. The new copper canopy on the east 

elevation of the Aldridge. 

PROJECT DATA 

BuiJding: 

The Aldridge Hotel 

20-24 East 9th Street 

Shawnee, Oklahoma 

Owner: 

ERC Partners of Oklahoma, LLC 

Barling, Arkansas 

Project Date: 2004 

Architect: 

The Hill Firm 

Fort Smith, Arkansas 

Project Manager: 

ERC Construction Group 

Barling, Arkansas 

Canopy Contractor: 

JEN CO Roofing & Sheet Metal 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 

Copper Supplier: 

Copper Craft 

Keller, Texas 

Stamped Metal Ceiling: 

W.F. Norman Corporation 

Nevada, Missouri 

Project Costs: 

The total cost of repair for the 

existing canopy was approximately 

$28,500. The cost to replicate the 

smaller side entrance canopy was 

$28,000. 

This Preservation Tech Note was prepared by the National Park 

Service. Charles E. Fisher, Technical Preservation Services, is the 

Technical Editor of the Preservation Tech Notes series. Information 

on the Aldridge Hotel canopy work was generously supplied by Thad 

Jennings of JENCO Roofing and Sheet Metal. Thanks go to Robert 

Baird of Historical Arts & Castings, Inc. and Richard Pieper of Jan 

Hird Pokorny Associates for providing information about rehabilitating and replicating historic metal canopies. Thanks are also extended 

to Sharon Park FAlA, Michael Auer, and Chad Randi of the National 

Park Service for their review and assistance. Unless otherwise noted, 

photographs are from NPS files or by the authors. 

ing and preserving cultural resources. All techniques and practices 

described herein conform to established National Park Service policies, procedures and standards. This Tech Note was prepared pursuant 

to the National Historic Preservation Act, which directs the Secretary 

of the Interior to develop and make available to government agencies 

and individuals information concerning professional methods and 

techniques for the preservation of historic properties. 

Preservation Tech Notes are designed to provide practical information 

on traditional and innovative techniques for successfully maintain8 

Comments on the usefulness of this information are welcomed and 

should be addressed to Preservation Tech Notes, Technical Preservation Services-2255, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, 

Washington, DC 20240. 

ISSN: 0741-9023 PTN-49 October 2006