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This fireplace has its original mantel and brick facing. The wall cupboards are also original to the house, although the doors were added in 1974. It is uncertain whether or not these cupboards had a specific use or originally had doors. The framed openings in the walls show different aspects of construction. One frame exposes the hand-split lath, the base to which plaster was applied, and handmade nails. The other shows brick nogging (rough brick masonry} which, was used to fill in open spaces in a wooden frame as well as acting as insulation. Note that some of the hogging here contains pieces of glazed header bricks indicating that they could have been taken from an earlier structure. A header brick is one which is laid with its end toward the face of the wall - a stretcher brick is one laid with its length parallel to the face of the wall. The mortar used is lime, sand and water. The chair rail is part of the original framing adding support to the wall. Plaster is filled in above. Note the criss-cross slashed pattern on the beams shown in the wall openings - this provided better adherence of the plaster. The corner opening shows the hand-hewn timbers and the details of brace and beam construction. The original maple ceiling beams have chamfered (beveled) edges for a purely decorative effect. This was done with a smoothing plane which left undulating ridges. These can be felt. There is no doubt that these beams were meant to be seen. The floors are heart of pine. The raised door panels and strap hinges are notable touches to this room.
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