Historic Restoration 2 • house & garden

One learns about center chimney fireplaces by taking them apart, brick by brick.

As I lift out an old brick, its soft mortar falling away, I think of the hands that last touched it, perhaps 225 years ago.

That mason worked in the silence of he frontier, with neither power tools nor pick up truck. He probably struggled to bring these beautiful wood fired bricks to the site with an ox drawn sled. He created fireplaces both functional and beautiful, to warm generation after generation. I know my restoration of his work must honor this craftsman and these qualities.