Notice I said it was built in the 1960's not the 1860's... We didn't even see this little hooky-cooky thingy until the "Brick Doctor" came out to caulk up the fireplace.
When we bought the house it had a brass firescreen attached to the fireplace. I opened it up (it was a bit rusty and only opened about ten or so inches), looked in and saw one charred log, lots of ashes, and a few spiderwebs. The building inspector told us he couldn't certify the fireplace as usable and explained how we would need to get a plumber out to check the gas line, a chimney sweep, and also we would have to hire someone to caulk up the cracks in the brickwork. Still, the house was in a great neighborhood and it did (technically) have a fireplace (two things to check off our wish list).
Now, fast forward six and a half years... Spring is here and we are finished with cold weather so I am closing the fireplace damper, dusting, sweeping up, and just plain cleaning the hearth. I usually only think about "it" on days like this.
I didn't even know what "it" was called until Wednesday morning (that's right, yesterday) - It's a fireplace crane. I was getting this post ready to link up with ColoradoLady's Vintage Thingy Thursday and wanted to know the name of the vintage treasure I planned to show off. You can 'google' anything - even things you don't know the name of...
Tell me, what's in your house that makes you wonder "why did the builder add this little beauty?"
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