...what did they support?! John Weaver, author of the excellent bible of America's Third System seacoast defenses, A Legacy in Brick and Stone, was shown this picture and queried as to the possible use of these supports...and he came up blank. He suggesed that they probably date from Fort Jefferson's "modernization" efforts, and thus fall out of his area of expertise.

I have come across such mysterious supports in other American starforts, which forts weren't initially designed with the expectation of such things as generators for electricity being necessary...and in the signature slapdash style of the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, solid and ugly supports such as these were swiftly constructed. I mean I can't blame anybody, if it were a choice betwixt soon-to-be historical masonry that didn't necessarily serve any present purpose and electricity, I'd go with electricity too.

Beginning to become aware of just made life at Fort Jefferson so allegedly unpleasant for those tasked with its defense, or imprisoned therein, I paused in the blessed shade of this environment for a snack I had brought along...and yes, I left no trace.