"As an architectural style, “stone enders” were built c. 1640-1700, and incorporated a massive stone chimney for most or the entire north wall. According to American Houses: A Field Guide to the Architecture of the Home by Gerald L. Foster, lime needed to make mortar was scarce in 17th century Massachusetts, and builders were forced to import it from England, making stone and brick masonry work expensive - early masons set their fireplace and chimney bricks in clay, using lime mortar only above the roof where the chimney was exposed to the weather. However, lime did occur naturally around Narragansett Bay, and stone was commonly used for very large fireplaces and chimneys."

Read the complete article on the restoration of this 17th century Waite home.