Facing Old Fireplace with New Bricks; Hull House

Designer Dominik suggested facing the original red brick fireplace.
Black and white facing half-bricks from Fireclay Tile was our choice.
Alan cut the ones on angles and glued them together.
Original fireplace below, with angled bricks waiting to go.

 Alan installs bricks above.

To right, almost done.

Applying grout between the bricks.

Finished fireplace does not yet have mantel installed.

Blue tape marks show studs and possible lighting locations.

Furnace Installation, Hull House

August, 2015:  Conversion from oil to gas, new furnace, installation by DE Duffey.
And, finally, air conditioning!

The old setup to right:  large old furnace , with hot water heater sandwiched to left and return ducts looping over.

 The old furnace sat on a concrete ridge, surrounding a hole in the ground where old return air ducts  came together.  Alan smashed the old ridge wall and filled the hole with rubble and concrete, creating a flat surface.

Old furnace on the way out, although pieces of it are still hanging around.





New set up below, reusing the water heater and moving the much smaller furnace back out of the way, adding 15 square feet of new usable space!

New gas line coming in through the closet must be fished through the ceiling to furnace and also a new line laid from the house to connect with the main in the street.

Gas Line Installation, Hull House

Riggs-Distler was subcontractor for PECO to install the gas line from the main along the street 125 feet to the house.

The first section through the lawn was no problem with the trencher:

Closer to the house, rocks near the surface meant that the mini-excavator had to come in.
Even with this backhoe, they had trouble going 20 inches.

Dom lays the gas line once the trench is cut, including through the driveway.

Good job, guys!  Thanks, Dom and Nick.

Staunton Virginia, August 2015

Staunton, Virginia hosts the excellent Staunton Music Festival in August.
http://www.stauntonmusicfestival.org.

While not listening to classical music, it is fun to walk the small town and go to Farmers Market.

Alocasia in public planters above.

Checking out watermelons to right.






Tomatoes below.

Then, dancing in the public square.

Family Gathering in Staunton, August 2015

Staunton Music Festival Ball 2015

The Ball takes place at Mary Baldwin College.

Gabriel and Min above.

The Hat, below to right.

Theme is Paris-Berlin in the 1920's.

The arrival of Charlie Chaplin and consort.

Accordion player from Germany and spontaneous dancing on the lawn.

The meal.