This Old House (1979)

Episode Overview

The episode opens with Steve in a municipal parking lot in Ipswich, Massachusetts, where a stunning 250-year-old Georgian home once stood. Later, he invites viewers to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, where the house and the lives of its former residents have been meticulously reconstructed. On-site, mason Lenny Belliveau works on the exterior of the new addition using water-struck brick. Inside, master carpenter inspects Dan McLaughlin's innovative insulating chimney system made from pumice, which quickly rises and helps maintain warmth, reducing the cold air that typically causes smoke to seep into the room. Tommy demonstrates his unique scribing technique for laying a wooden floor over what used to be an outdoor patio, a method that surprises Steve. Lastly, architect Steve Holt shares his design for the new fireplace inglenook, drawing inspiration from historical photographs.