York Town News
A glimpse at life inside the Ramsdell House in 1815
Courtesy of OYHS
Join Old York Historical Society for this unique perspective on life in early York as seen through the eyes of a mason from noon to 1 p.m. at York Public Library.
The event will focus on the most recently acquired museum building of Old York, the historic Ramsdell House, which stands as a rare representation of what a common family's home in York would have been in the early 19th century.
Originally two rooms around a central chimney, the Ramsdell House is typical of the cramped quarters most families lived in during much of the town's early period, as opposed to the well-furnished homes of the wealthy that most often survive as historic house museums.
On Thursday, join Richard Irons, a restoration mason, for this talk on the challenges of rebuilding the chimney of the Ramsdell House with only minimal surviving evidence to define the size and scope of the project.
Using the chimney as his central focus, he will also discuss the typical lifestyle of a poor family in 1815, including how they tried to keep warm in winter and how they cooked their food.
Irons' family business is dedicated to the highest standards of preserving, restoring and reproducing historic masonry - matching original materials and workmanship exactly.
The lecture is free, though donations are gratefully appreciated at the door.
For more information, visit the Old York website at www.oldyork.org or call 363-4974.
