Jump to content

Thomas Frazer (stonemason): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m fix "still extant"
Line 3: Line 3:
Frazer moved from [[Lehi, Utah]] to come to Beaver, Utah.
Frazer moved from [[Lehi, Utah]] to come to Beaver, Utah.
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
Frazer arrived in 1868 and immediately began construction on industrial structures, none of which are still extant. He built almost exclusively with the black rock until about 1881. The black rock is actually basalt, a very hard, dense volcanic stone and it is commonly found in the nearby foothills in small outcroppings. Because basalt is so hard, it weathers very well, but is somewhat difficult to cut. Frazer and his masons split the stone and then
Frazer arrived in 1868 and immediately began construction on industrial structures, none of which remain. He built almost exclusively with the black rock until about 1881. The black rock is actually basalt, a very hard, dense volcanic stone and it is commonly found in the nearby foothills in small outcroppings. Because basalt is so hard, it weathers very well, but is somewhat difficult to cut. Frazer and his masons split the stone and then
used chisels to make the fracture even smoother. If the basalt had no air pockets, it often fractured in several, small clean flakes, making a roughly squared face. These roughly squared blocks were set in courses on the front facades of buildings, the facades that faced the streets. Because they were not perfectly squared, the blocks were finished around the edges with black-dyed mortar and joined by a white mortar joint, the effect of which was to give the stone blocks a perfectly squared appearance (for examples, see sites #99, the Duckworth Grimshaw House and #100, the David Powell House). However, the ashlar stonework was only facade deep. Stone walls were commonly eighteen inches in depth and the cut stones were backed by rubble stone, then finished with lath and plaster on the interior of the building. This technique was also practiced with pink rock.<ref name=BeaverMRA/>
used chisels to make the fracture even smoother. If the basalt had no air pockets, it often fractured in several, small clean flakes, making a roughly squared face. These roughly squared blocks were set in courses on the front facades of buildings, the facades that faced the streets. Because they were not perfectly squared, the blocks were finished around the edges with black-dyed mortar and joined by a white mortar joint, the effect of which was to give the stone blocks a perfectly squared appearance (for examples, see sites #99, the Duckworth Grimshaw House and #100, the David Powell House). However, the ashlar stonework was only facade deep. Stone walls were commonly eighteen inches in depth and the cut stones were backed by rubble stone, then finished with lath and plaster on the interior of the building. This technique was also practiced with pink rock.<ref name=BeaverMRA/>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
Line 9: Line 9:
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
Thomas Frazer was the most prolific stonemason in Beaver and the excellent quality of both craftsmanship and design found in his buildings has earned him the title of vernacular architect. He was the only builder in Beaver to make a full-time living from his construction skills, but like most people in town, he also had a farm to cultivate as well. Frazer was born a mile from Blairgowrie, Scotland in 1821 and lived the first 40 years of his life there. He acquired his skills as a stonemason in Scotland, a craft which was much in demand when he immigrated to Utah in 1861 as a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon church authorities asked Frazer and his family to move to Beaver in 1869 to
Thomas Frazer was the most prolific stonemason in Beaver and the excellent quality of both craftsmanship and design found in his buildings has earned him the title of vernacular architect. He was the only builder in Beaver to make a full-time living from his construction skills, but like most people in town, he also had a farm to cultivate as well. Frazer was born a mile from Blairgowrie, Scotland in 1821 and lived the first 40 years of his life there. He acquired his skills as a stonemason in Scotland, a craft which was much in demand when he immigrated to Utah in 1861 as a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon church authorities asked Frazer and his family to move to Beaver in 1869 to
help initiate an aggressive building campaign there and Frazer immediately began to build commercial, industrial, institutional and residential architecture. Unfortunately, only his residential structures are still extant today, but they are more than enough to explain Frazer's style of architecture. In his buildings, Frazer commonly employed one or more of six architectural elements: Dashlar stonework; 2)beaded or recessed mortar joints that were painted white; 3)cornice-line dormer windows; 4)bay windows; 5) a Greek
help initiate an aggressive building campaign there and Frazer immediately began to build commercial, industrial, institutional and residential architecture. Only his residential structures remain today, but they are more than enough to explain Frazer's style of architecture. In his buildings, Frazer commonly employed one or more of six architectural elements: Dashlar stonework; 2)beaded or recessed mortar joints that were painted white; 3)cornice-line dormer windows; 4)bay windows; 5) a Greek
Revival style cornice or decorative barge board; and 6) a center gable. These six architectural elements not only help to identify Frazer 1 s work, but they combine to help create his architectural style. Frazer worked almost exclusively with the local black basalt for about 12 years. He occasionally incorporated pieces of native green or brown granite in his buildings and even less fequently, some red sandstone. The basalt is a very hard stone and was fractured, or chipped, to create the flat surfaces. Circa 1881, the pink tuff quarry was opened near the mouth of Beaver River Canyon, and because it was so easy to carve, it replaced the black rock as the most popular building stone.<ref name=BeaverMRA/>{{rp|12}}
Revival style cornice or decorative barge board; and 6) a center gable. These six architectural elements not only help to identify Frazer 1 s work, but they combine to help create his architectural style. Frazer worked almost exclusively with the local black basalt for about 12 years. He occasionally incorporated pieces of native green or brown granite in his buildings and even less fequently, some red sandstone. The basalt is a very hard stone and was fractured, or chipped, to create the flat surfaces. Circa 1881, the pink tuff quarry was opened near the mouth of Beaver River Canyon, and because it was so easy to carve, it replaced the black rock as the most popular building stone.<ref name=BeaverMRA/>{{rp|12}}
</blockquote>
</blockquote>

Revision as of 09:44, 20 September 2012

Thomas Frazer (b. 1821) was an American mason who worked in Beaver, Utah. Born in Scotland, he created many works that are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.[1][2]

Frazer moved from Lehi, Utah to come to Beaver, Utah.

Frazer arrived in 1868 and immediately began construction on industrial structures, none of which remain. He built almost exclusively with the black rock until about 1881. The black rock is actually basalt, a very hard, dense volcanic stone and it is commonly found in the nearby foothills in small outcroppings. Because basalt is so hard, it weathers very well, but is somewhat difficult to cut. Frazer and his masons split the stone and then used chisels to make the fracture even smoother. If the basalt had no air pockets, it often fractured in several, small clean flakes, making a roughly squared face. These roughly squared blocks were set in courses on the front facades of buildings, the facades that faced the streets. Because they were not perfectly squared, the blocks were finished around the edges with black-dyed mortar and joined by a white mortar joint, the effect of which was to give the stone blocks a perfectly squared appearance (for examples, see sites #99, the Duckworth Grimshaw House and #100, the David Powell House). However, the ashlar stonework was only facade deep. Stone walls were commonly eighteen inches in depth and the cut stones were backed by rubble stone, then finished with lath and plaster on the interior of the building. This technique was also practiced with pink rock.[1]

Thomas Frazer was the most prolific stonemason in Beaver and the excellent quality of both craftsmanship and design found in his buildings has earned him the title of vernacular architect. He was the only builder in Beaver to make a full-time living from his construction skills, but like most people in town, he also had a farm to cultivate as well. Frazer was born a mile from Blairgowrie, Scotland in 1821 and lived the first 40 years of his life there. He acquired his skills as a stonemason in Scotland, a craft which was much in demand when he immigrated to Utah in 1861 as a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon church authorities asked Frazer and his family to move to Beaver in 1869 to help initiate an aggressive building campaign there and Frazer immediately began to build commercial, industrial, institutional and residential architecture. Only his residential structures remain today, but they are more than enough to explain Frazer's style of architecture. In his buildings, Frazer commonly employed one or more of six architectural elements: Dashlar stonework; 2)beaded or recessed mortar joints that were painted white; 3)cornice-line dormer windows; 4)bay windows; 5) a Greek Revival style cornice or decorative barge board; and 6) a center gable. These six architectural elements not only help to identify Frazer 1 s work, but they combine to help create his architectural style. Frazer worked almost exclusively with the local black basalt for about 12 years. He occasionally incorporated pieces of native green or brown granite in his buildings and even less fequently, some red sandstone. The basalt is a very hard stone and was fractured, or chipped, to create the flat surfaces. Circa 1881, the pink tuff quarry was opened near the mouth of Beaver River Canyon, and because it was so easy to carve, it replaced the black rock as the most popular building stone.[1]: 12 

Works (credits) include:

References

  1. ^ a b c "Beaver MRA" (PDF). National Park Service.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_Frazer_(stonemason)&oldid=513671110"