There are two fireplaces in the Adobe. They are place back to back with one inside in the living room and the other outside on the patio. They share a chimney, divided into 2 air chambers, one for each fireplace.

I love both of these fireplaces. They are built of brick and have adobe from the mantle up. Both were in serious disrepair as you can see by my photos. I didn’t think we were going to be able to bring them back. Our masons were took it as a challenge and were able to restore the bricks of both. Take a look at what a fantastic job they did.

We will have the adobe covered with stucco. The interior fireplace will probably get a woodburning stove or insert. The exterior fireplace will get a fabricated insert that is open to the air. Both will have the chimney insert/lining brought to code so we don’t risk fire.

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When we first acquired the property, the Adobe, AKA, the Commercial Building, was full of detritus that had built up over time, a couch, rugs, mattress, trash, and other items too many to list. The exterior was overgrown with trees and brush that had grown unchecked for years. The adobe, itself, was wearing down from time and weather and had a lot of graffiti inscribed on it. The building had been used for target practice or more like as something to shoot. In short, is was in a bad state of decline.

We first started by cleaning out the debris from around and inside the building. Took many loads to the county landfill. We trimmed back the trees and brush and started to assess the damage. We also came up with a floor plan so we could move forward with our basic restoration plan.

We hired a local family of masons who worked a good week removing adobe blocks from interior walls where we no longer wanted them and use those blocks to repair the exterior walls. Lintels were replaced as needed, windows and doors were enlarged as desired, and the foundation was repaired as needed. Photos are on the Adobe page in the Restoration Begins section.

One of the masons brought his son along when he wasn’t in school. The young man worked alongside the others doing age and ability appropriate tasks. I really admired the respect he was given while working. He was treated as a valued member of the team and worked as if he knew he was valued. It was good to see. This young man has a good future in whatever he decides to pursue and will certainly be a capable mason when he graduates from highschool.

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The journey began almost 2 years ago. A friend in the area had his eye on a property owned by an investor. He waited, patiently, for the asking price of the property to be reduced. Eventually, it did. But not wanting the entire parcel, he asked if the local museum wanted to take on one of the historic buildings.

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