Hearthside - The House That Love Built

FIREPLACE DISCOVERY CONTINUES THE MYSTERY OF THE "PIPES OF PAN"

The story of the "Pipes of Pan" has captured the imagination of every visitor who comes to Hearthside, as they envision Stephen Hopkins Smith installing this very unique feature into the fireplace of the front parlor to be the ultimate enticement for his young love to marry him.  The "Pipes of Pan" feature has been enjoyed by every family who lived at Hearthside but no one knew how they worked, where they were, or even what they were.  All they knew is that with the turn of the knob on the mantel, the draft of the fireplace chimney caused the mechanism inside to emit a flute-like sound throughout the room.

A successful grant application to the Mary Dexter Chafee Foundation gave us the means to explore further.  On July 20 th , 2009 under the supervision of Friends of Hearthside Vice President and Site Manager, John Scanlon, our mason uncovered the fireplace opening, letting some 30 years of soot loose, and into the chimney he went.  Rushing to the scene was Marcia Green, editor of the Valley Breeze , for a first-hand account of the long-awaited discovery.  Feeling around in the dark, mason Pat Chece found a crevice behind the wall of the Rumford fireplace and a "paddle" that sat on top of it.  Could this be our "Pipes of Pan?"  Well, there were no "pipes" as we had envisioned, but this certainly seems to be the mechanism that caused the sounds.  The metal paddle is attached to the rod that is operated by the knob on the front of the fireplace .   The next day, a group of workers from the Lincoln Sewer Department came to assist with the exploration.  Armed with a tiny camera on the end of a long cable, they snaked the device down the chimney, making the long route from roof top down three floors to the first floor parlor.  And a video monitor made it possible for all of us to see the inner walls of the chimney and finally to the "Pipes of Pan."  The paddle was turned this way and that, to the delight of everyone as we watched on the screen.  So while "it" was found, we still wonder how it all worked. The next chapter is yet to be written.  Chimney repairs are being made, and then we'll get a fire going and hopefully hear that music that Hearthside families enjoyed through the years. 

More news to follow as we continue to work on this unique architectural feature of Hearthside.

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