A Stone's Throw :: a blog about stonework, history and happenings around Raleigh, NC or farther than a stone's throw away.
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Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 4:57 PM
 A small neighborhood project was a big reminder of how different Raleigh was in the 1950's. When Belvidere Park received grant money for a community improvement project, a time capsule with neighborhood history was not part of the plan. It was only after construction began on new entryway columns that the idea cropped up. We realized, after tearing down the remains of the old columns, that it would've been fun if workers had left something behind for present-day residents. |
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Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 5:07 PM
 The tradition of placing coins in stonework that's under construction goes way back, but I came upon it in the late 1990's. A stonemason from England had found my business online. I guess European Stone Masonry sounded like a good bet for employment. I couldn't offer him work, but I told him to look me up if he ever made it to North Carolina. To my great surprise, a few weeks later he was in town and stopped by for a beer. I showed him some of my work around Raleigh, and he asked me if we threw coins in our stonework here. |
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Posted on Thursday, September 22, 2011 10:23 AM
 This stone porch has had surgery but you can't see it - a kind of nip/tuck for masonry. It's a common problem with older homes and even some new ones around Raleigh. The footing for the steps isn't attached to the porch or worse yet, there's no footing at all. A footing is just a concrete substructure that provides a solid base for masonry. That Sinking Feeling. Over time, without a solid footing, the steps may separate from the porch or the porch may separate from the house or both. |
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Posted on Monday, August 08, 2011 12:25 PM
 Twitter followers may remember a series of tweets about this job last year. Here's a more detailed look at the anatomy of a stone wall we built in downtown Raleigh.For this project, a large oak tree was key to how the stone wall was designed and constructed. Located on the grounds of ahistoric church, it was important to protect the mature tree during the installation of a new sitting wall and wheelchair ramp. To minimize digging around the roots, an above-ground footing was designed. |
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Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2011 11:44 AM
 This month, we're more than a stone's throw away from Raleigh. On a recent visit to Connecticut, we discovered the historic stonework along the Iron Heritage Trail. The Iron Heritage Trail is a series of 58 blast furnaces, lime kilns, forges, iron mining and mill sites in northwestern Connecticut and the surrounding areas of Massachusetts and New York. At one time, this area was the center of America's iron industry. Today, it's a beautiful drive along lush rolling hills, quiet New England towns and for stone enthusiasts, more rambling walls than you can shake a chisel at. |
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Posted on Monday, May 09, 2011 9:07 AM
 Belvidere Park residents had fun yesterday placing a new stone bench near the Vale Street entrance. The project is funded by a neighborhood improvement program through the City of Raleigh. The stone bench is the next step in a lengthy process which began with the construction of new stone columnsat the main entrance on Dennis Avenue. The bench is a seat with a past. The nearly twelve hundred pound block of stone is antique granite reclaimed from Central Prison in Raleigh. |
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Posted on Friday, April 01, 2011 9:15 AM
Do Your Homework. So how do you choose a residential masonry contractor? As with most home projects, it's well worth the effort to do a some research. (Oh sure, we've learned the hard way too. Don't ask about the bathtub debacle.) Look for an experienced stonemason with great references, a solid reputation and one who offers a guarantee. Askto see what they're currently working on. Look at their past masonry projects on-site. |
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Posted on Thursday, March 31, 2011 10:15 PM
 Ah, spring! It's that exciting time of year when we put into action those projects we've been dreaming about all winter. Are you thinking about including stonework in your home or landscape this season? Maybe a new garden wall to define your planting beds? Or a stone patio and outdoor fireplace for summer celebrations? If you haven't worked with a masonry contractor before, you may be wondering where to begin. Here are some guidelines to help you through the buying process. They're based on our years of experience working with customers, listening and learning along the way. |
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Posted on Monday, February 28, 2011 6:31 PM
 If you've ever traveled along Highway 64 west towards Raleigh, you may have wondered about this old stone fireplace from another era. It sits on an embankment on the right just past the Neuse River. On a rainy winter day when this photo was taken, it had a spooky vibe, but you could imagine that it had once been a place where people had fun. These days, the substantial granite fireplace is forlorn with smilax vines getting the better of the terraced walls nearby. |
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Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2011 2:00 PM
 Welcome to A Stone's Throw, a new blog from European Stone Masonry LLC. Every month or so we'll focus on stonework, history and happenings from around Raleigh and maybe farther afield. This month we highlight a local project that's taken over 2 years and lots of twists. It took a village, OK really an ITB neighborhood, to get this stonework project off the ground. But this week Belvidere Park broke ground on a new plan to improve their community. Two stone columns will mark the entrance to the downtown Raleigh subdivision with a sign and the date the first homes were built - 1948. |
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