Bricks

Lynn Grieveson, Big Fade Album Template
Paula Kesselring, Paper Collection 15
Paula Kesselring, Old School Papers
Dawn Inskip, Weathered Elements
Allison Pennington, Lady Veneerbets Alpha
Mommyish, Stylin #191 - Patterned Birch Styles
Sabrina, September Morning Elements
Fonts: Times New Roman & Blackjack Pro

'We came across the obituary of Jim Finley in the paper today and Bob started telling me the story of when our house was built. It was 1970 and he had a vision of the house that his Dad, Pa, was willing to build for him. He found a large flat lot convenient to work at INCO and in the Ovvie Mills subdivision off West Pea Ridge. There were only a few houses built at the time and he bought 2 parcels. The house would be brick and frame, so he drove around looking at houses for ideas. His favorite bricks were in the brown, orange, yellow family. He chose an elongated ”Norman” brick that was found at a Kentucky brickyard and he wanted a nice black mortar to help the bricks show up. He had sketched the house and Pa drew up the plans. Pa ordered the bricks and declared that the only person he wanted to lay the bricks for the house, fireplace, and chimney was Jim Finley.Jim agreed to make himself available. He was the only bricklayer on the job. He laid the whole house with so precise, even symmetrical rows that it looks as if it was machine laid. The mortar black was all measured for a precise and consistent color.The indoor fireplace was to be a large wall as you walk into the family room. Bob wanted a big unique display in autumn colors so he bought a variety of stones from a store on Rt. 60. There were sandstone and Virginia logs. He included a brick from Washington Ave. where he grew up and a fieldstone from Elliott Co. Kentucky where Pa was born. He even had an ornamental stone from Granny’s tropical fish store.Jim had reservations about working with this mismatch of stones but agreed to try. He started from the floor making shapes as needed. Some pieces like the brick he split. The result is a beautiful, symmetrical, functional addition to our home. Jim was a truly gifted craftsman who we were blessed to have share his talents with us. He will affectionately be remembered as “Slim Chimney.”'