Fireplace Update

At end of June trip. At end of June trip.

Update! The rebuilding of our cabin after the fire of 1999 is nearly complete. Last summer, we began the last major task -- building the long-awaited fireplace!

By late fall, the firebox was complete, the chimney had risen to the level of the second floor window, and much of the interior stonework was done. Work had to stop for the winter, but interior work resumed on the April trip. By June, the snow was gone. New and better scaffolding was erected, another flue liner was added, and the chimney rose. Work on the fireplace continued on Monday, and now the stonework has risen above and across the throat.

In August, it was -- more rock, more mortar, higher and higher! Most of the work on the weekend was done on the exterior. We raised more sections of the scaffolding, added two sections of flue and the surrounding rock. Steve is hopeful that we might be able to complete the construction with two more work trips planned for September 19-21 and October 24-26.

The goal: a new fireplace for SubSig Cabin

Our cabins director, Steve Hayes, plans a Rumford style fireplace. The Rumford fireplace is a tall, shallow fireplace designed by Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford), an Anglo-American physicist who was known for his investigations of heat. To learn more about Rumford style fireplaces, see here.

It should be toasty and efficient! So, let's move on to the progress...
Picture of Rumford fireplace

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Progress

table test

The beginning of the rock pile
 Cement Mixer
A flue liner goes up the ladder
 Interior firebrick after one day's work
The first task was gathering rocks. When the pile had grown to 6 feet, it was time to begin. An old cement mixer was donated and repaired. Flue liners were pulled up the ladder and installed. The firebox was lined with firebrick. After one day's work, it looked like this.
Start of interior stonework Inside masonry work
 Chimney Late Fall 2007
Eighteen inches in ninety minutes
The interior stonework began.
 This much got done in the fall.
By the time the weather turned too cold for masonry work, the chimney had reached the level of the second floor windows.
 April, 2008. Interior work resumed.
The stonework rose 18" in 90 minutes, to 47".
Old scaffolding goes New scaffolding Steve working on chimney in June. Fireplace as of June 15.
In June, the old scaffolding
came down.		 As the height increased, we needed better scaffolding. Steve works on the chimney. Work continued into Monday, and the fireplace looked like this.
scaffolding goes higher Flue goes higher putting flue in place is it straight
In August, the scaffolding went higher. We added more flue sections. Heave ho, the flue is heavy. Is the flue straight and secure?
lots more water a delicate balance looking straight a smile at last
Sunday, we hauled water from our
neighbors. Thanks Marion and George!		 There was a delicate balance needed. Things were coming together. A smile at last.

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The task: finishing the fireplace!

No experience is needed. Learning masonry is fun! The work goes slowly, but the results are satisfying. While muscle is appreciated for some of the fireplace work, the inside work requires more patience than muscle. There also is a need for "hunters and gatherers" who can mix mortar, carry water, and provide general labor. So, everyone can contribute in some way.

On worktrips, both the cabin stay and food are free, and a day of work also earns you one future free night.

The next work trip will be Sept. 19-21. New and experienced masons, and all kinds of other helpers are welcome. With luck, we hope to finish on the October 24-26 work trip. Come help us get the fireplace finished for the winter season!

To get involved, check the Trip schedule or E-mail Steve Hayes at rowleydvm@aol.com.

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