Smokehouse restoration project

[angry santa]

A gentleman from our local historical society got in contact with me about helping restore a smokehouse built around the 1840-50 era. Also, they want someone to run it and give demonstations on it several times a year at events that are held at the farm....I'm all over this !!!! So I went to look at it today...the firebox is gone, the concrete roof is falling in, door is gone, etc. I'm looking for input on period construction methods, and even more for advice on functionality...

 

[angry santa]

Pics of smokehouse...

 

[daveomak]

Nice looking smoker... Can't wait to see what's next.... Dave

 

[GaryHibbert]

Lots of work to do there. At least the walls all look pretty sound.
Gary

 

[smokesontuesday]

Lot of work to be done there but the walls don't look too bad at least. There is a really cool stone smoke house at the Murrell Home here that is from the same time period. I could get some pics of it if you want them for reference.

 

[hoity toit]

that is great! Go for it, it will be a good expierence i am sure.

 

[angry santa]

Lot of work to be done there but the walls don't look too bad at least. There is a really cool stone smoke house at the Murrell Home here that is from the same time period. I could get some pics of it if you want them for reference.

Any reference pics would be greatly appreciated. From what I can find the concrete roof was installed on it around 1928 or so when the butcher shop was added next to it. I'm thinking it was probably a frame roof on it before that, but not sure. We're getting a few Boyscouts who are working on their Eagle Badges involved as "grunts" for a bunch of the labor, and they want a mobile pit set up for the demonstrations to show how it pertains to what we do today. It's really a unique project, and another excuse to smoke vittles....

 

[angry santa]

Update on project..... looks like it's gonna be a go. Met with the Parks Commission this evening and they requested some drawings, a materials list, and budget by the Dec. meeting. It also looks like they are entertaining a barbecue cook off next summer and a chilli cook off next fall (also mentioned a beer garden), as well as the two festivals they do on the property every year. They need the project completed by the beginning of May. I think it'll be pretty cool to have it smoking away, and a pit going next to it showing what this art has turned into..... stay tuned....

 

[ristau5741]

What the heritage of the area? ethnicity, whether it be German, English, French or whatever, you could probably go around to other local historical societies in the general area (what area is this smokehouse in?) to get more detailed information on building techniques based on the history of the area, as each ethnicity may have unique building techniques. I'm assuming that you already done a ton of research on the internet for the project. you may want to engage a professional antique building restorer to make it true to the local architecture, the location, and time period.

 

[smokesontuesday]

I'll get out to the Murrell Home this weekend and get some pics for you. I needed a project this weekend anyway since I'm batching it.