Wanna Meet My Mantels?

The Cross House was built in 1894 and had eight coal fireplaces.

All the mantels AND over-mantles are in situ. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.

Because the house also had radiators, it seems curious that the fireplaces were even used. I mean, why bother with the work and mess?

The mantels were, I presume, all ordered from catalogs. This was common.

The tile surrounds are all by the America Encaustic Tiling Company.

There are three styles of cast-iron surrounds for the openings, and three styles of insert/cover plates (which are removable, so as to light a coal fire). I did not realize there were different styles until today. I don’t think the inserts are “summer covers” because the latter are solid, where all my inserts feature filigree openings, and were obviously meant to be year-round.

What follows is a whopping 46 images.

 

ENTRANCE HALL

hn

Yummy. There were gas/electric sconces on the sides of the chimney breast.

 

4g5

Cast-iron surround, Style #1. One tends to notice the mantels in the house, but the cast-iron work is also stunning.

 

D

Details.

 

-

Detail.

 

-0

Detail.

 

 

PARLOR

tyn

Yummy. Gas/electric sconces to each side.

 

56h

Surround, Style #2.

 

l6

Details.

 

nyn

Details.

 

net

Detail similar to Entrance Hall.

 

 

LIBRARY

ten

Yummy. My favorite. There were gas/electric sconces on each side of the chimney breast.

 

790

Surround, Style #2 with different insert plate than Parlor.

 

p

Gallant Man. Who is he?

 

x

Fair maiden. Who is she? I appreciate rather than love these representative tiles.

 

yk

Detail.

 

78

Detail.

 

j6

Gorgeous hand-carved panel. LOVE.

 

6h

Detail.

 

 

DINING ROOM

btw

Yummy. There were no sconces to each side. Curious.

 

j5

Surround, Style #3. The insert plate is, sadly, missing.

 

y5

My favorite tile in the house. LOVE.

 

56

Detail. This looks English to me. Anybody know what this detail is called?

 

6k6

I strongly suspect that the overmantel is not from a catalog, but custom. Wanna know why?

 

rk

Because it matches the china cabinet.

 

 

ROUND BEDROOM

b

Yummy. There were no sconces to each side. Susan and Harrison Cross had one child, a son. He also had one child. When he divorced (!), his daughter, it seems, moved in with Susan and Harrison. The Round Bedroom, I presume, was hers. And all this would explain the VERY girly mantel and tile. (This image fascinates me. I enjoy the contrast between the sweet, girly, and gorgeous mantel and tiles, and the horror of the adjacent plaster walls!)

 

ty

Surround, Style #2, with Library insert plate.

 

fb

Another mystery lady. Staring forever at her…

 

h5

…mystery Man. And both watched by…

 

tt

…mystery girl.

 

tj

Detail.

 

tyj

Detail. At some point, some idiot ruthlessly gouged out holes for sconces to each side. I plan to get in my time machine and slap them. Also, wouldn’t it have been MUCH easier to install sconces in the plaster wall????????

 

gh4w

Detail.

 

 

OCTAGON BEDROOM

gf

The Octagon Bedroom was, I presume, used by Susan Cross. As such, one would assume a better mantel, right? This one seems WAY less expensive than the other mantels in the house. Most curious. The mantel has also been damaged by a long-term water leak (fixed). The mantel is repairable. There were gas/electric sconces to each side.

 

rgtb

Surround, Style #2, with Library insert plate.

 

Tiles.

Tiles. Pale green.

 

At

At some point, it appears that one tile on top fell to the floor and was replaced, with amusing inelegance, by a plain red tile. The tile to its right also presumably fell, but did not break, or it was loose. It was reset. Upside-down. I am assuming the installer had a bit too much whiskey? I am 50/50 about repairing this curiosity. A part of me longs to correct this aesthetic injustice. Another part of me just smiles when I look at this, and thinks: There is a story here. Savor it. (Want to earn a million dollars?)

 

D

Details.

 

 

SEWING ROOM

v

The Sewing Room is en-suite with the Octagon Bedroom, and it, too, has what looks to me like another budget mantel. There were gas/electric sconces to each side.

 

b

Surround, Style #3, with Parlor insert plate.

 

h

Tiles. VERY pale green. A while back I found matching tiles on eBay, but they were gray.

 

fv

Detail.

 

 

LONG BEDROOM

b

There are three “masculine” mantels in the house. One in the Library, one in the Dining Room, and this one. Was the Long Bedroom used by Harrison Cross, thus explaining the masculine mantel? This mantel matches the dining room mantel. There were gas/electric sconces to each side.

 

hw

Surround, Style #1, with Entrance Hall insert plate.

 

4

The tiles are kinda taupe.

 

hw

This detail again.

 

h5

Unlike the overmantel in the dining room, which is, I suspect, custom, this one looks like a catalog item. I do love columns. Particularly petite ones.

 

 

 

58 Comments

  1. aBell on October 8, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    Love, love, love this post.

    • Ross on October 8, 2016 at 8:46 pm

      Thank you!

      I have had a series of “small” posts for awhile.

      It seemed like a “big” one was past due!

  2. Tiffaney on October 8, 2016 at 8:59 pm

    Well, I’m dying. This post has killed me.

    I have to believe that no one would install that many fireplaces without planning on using them.

    I don’t understand a coal fireplace. How does that work?

    • Ross on October 8, 2016 at 11:37 pm

      Fireplaces had been around forever. Radiators were quite advanced when the Cross House was built.

      As such, I suspect that the fireplaces were simply a default item. It’s just what people did.

      Also, I assume coal fireplaces worked like wood fireplaces. Place coal in grate, light, and enjoy.

      It’s my understanding that one should NOT use wood in an old coal fireplace. I don’t think the flues are large enough.

      They make coal conversion kits, where a gas insert can be installed. I will do a later post about this.

  3. meg@sparrowhaunt.com on October 8, 2016 at 10:50 pm

    Great houses think alike my friend! Be seated, scroll down a bit, and prepare to laugh…here.

  4. Gia on October 8, 2016 at 10:51 pm

    I LOVE your mantles! Despite the abuse, these are in incredible shape. So beautiful it almost makes me cry. You must be so proud!

  5. Blair Carmichael on October 8, 2016 at 10:57 pm

    I can only assume from my mothers fondness for 19th century literature that the first man and woman tiles are Robin Hood and Maid Marion. The next couple are Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI and overlooking them is Empress Maria Theresa.

    My coal fireplace is in shambles! How best to repair it?!

  6. Blair Carmichael on October 8, 2016 at 11:00 pm

    I believe the vertical oval sunburst is actually a representation of the North Star. Very important for trade around the world before GPS!

  7. john feuchtenberger on October 8, 2016 at 11:12 pm

    Ross, I am struck that all your grate covers are ventilating covers. One of my grates has a solid winter cover to seal the opening after the fire died down to prevent wind gusts from blowing ash into the room, and a matching but pierced-work one like all of yours for summer use, when the fireplace would be swept clean and the chimney updraft pulled in fresh air from outside. What on earth is that eviscerated human heart-looking thing in the dining room fireplace? A remnant of an Aztec brunch? A left-over Eddie bit from your last Rocky Horror party?

    • Ross on October 8, 2016 at 11:25 pm

      Yep, an Eddie bit! Ya’ caught me!

      The previous owner put some sort of insert into the dining room fireplace. Electric fire? Gas? The “heart” you see is spray foam!

  8. montana on October 9, 2016 at 3:18 am

    duck tape makes the man.
    BTW – if you look closely at the woman at the top of the surround with the opposing man and maid, you’ll see that is obviously the mom.

  9. Tara Potter on October 9, 2016 at 9:49 am

    OH MY GOSH! They are all so beautiful tho I think the Library is my favorite. Thank Goodness they were not lost during the house’s many changes. they are all so yummy!

  10. Elin Noller on October 9, 2016 at 11:24 am

    I could scroll up and down, up and down comparing the mantles and details for a very long time.

  11. Elin Noller on October 9, 2016 at 11:33 am

    And..the red and upside down tile.
    There may be a story there, but not all stories are good.

    This is like a sadist doctor enjoying hurting the patients he is tasked to help, or uncaring at best. Like a botched reconstructive surgury by a hack.

    If you can, I think you should heal her. Do a better job than whom ever did that.

  12. Bo Sullivan on October 9, 2016 at 11:57 am

    In response to John’s comment, the solid fronts were called summer covers and were for the warmer months when the coal grates were not in use.

    See here for the term in use.

    This c1907 catalog has some info on grates and frames and covers. It is a little later, but still relevant (they call the decorative covers summer pieces).

    I expect a damper was used to prevent downdrafts.

    • Ross on October 9, 2016 at 1:28 pm

      Thank, Bo!!!!!!!!

      I love love love the catalog! Yummy!

    • john feuchtenberger on October 9, 2016 at 2:19 pm

      I stand corrected by the expert! What would one call my pair of covers, the solid one a summer cover, and the piercework one a ventilated summer cover? I have salvaged a bunch of 1890-1914 houses here, and have not seen a damper in a masonry coal grate, though higher-end houses with (rare)cast iron inserts had them . Most grates here, and ones in my house, are quite small–8″ deep X 18″ wide, narrow throat-legacy of Count Rumford. Bluefield was a coalfield boomtown with overnight wooden Queen Annes climbing the hills around the railroad–maybe the local builders customarily omitted them?

  13. Bo Sullivan on October 9, 2016 at 2:47 pm

    I’m no expert – I’ve just wasted more time reading and buying old trade catalogs than your average old-house nerd. And I don’t mean that as a good thing. Right now my 14-year-old wants to go learn how to drive a car, but I’d rather discuss coal-burning fireplaces apparently… 😉

    I honestly don’t know about the damper question or pierced cover question, and as Ross can attest I can be quite convincingly wrong about my assertions. The original catalogs are my usual arbiters of fact vs. anecdote, but they aren’t always clear either. A good illustrated How-To book or guide from the time period would help a lot – probably out there somewhere.

    Donley produced a series of books on fireplaces that might have some info, but I haven’t read them.

    One big problem in all these conversations is the fact that we have moved so far from what used to be everyday technologies, that we often don’t even understand how they were actually used on a daily basis when it was taken for granted in the day. For instance, I’m going to guess that the pierced cover was placed in the frame after the fire was lit, allowing air and heat to pass through while preventing burning coal from spilling or popping (do chunks of coal pop?) out of the firebox. But I have no clue. And where did one put the summer cover during winter – in the basement or closet?

    I think the classic old ceramic-insert radiant gas fireplaces replaced a lot of these coal grates a few decades later, but I don’t know that either. Lost tribal knowledge.

    I haven’t lived with fireplaces in any meaningful way, so I don’t know how dampers worked, and it may well be that they only were installed on wood-burning fireplaces. I assume it has to do with the mythical fireplace “draw” thing…

    Anyone ever used one of these coal grates to actually burn coal?

    • Dodi on February 25, 2017 at 1:30 am

      I did. When I was a teen in the mountains of East Tennessee, all the grates were coal burning. The firebox grate had smaller intersections because coal had to be mounded to burn in them. The kindling started with paper, then small wood kindling, then the coal was covering the kindling in a cone with the bigger hunks on the bottom. After the kindling caught the coal a-burning, it was fairly stable, but as it heated, it split the coal. When the splits happened, the coal would “jump” out of the grate, sometimes quite violently. Coal “throws” farther than wood pops, so a fire screen is essential. I notice that the screens have baffles…those little round thingies at the bottom, so I assumed that these were state of the art fire screens. Given that the coal burn hotter and longer than wood, it would be the height of luxury to have such an appliance. The baffles would control the rate of burn and the piercings would provide a romantic glow as it heated the air and the room. With coal, one does not have to have a lot of air for the fire simply because coal burns cleaner. Another advantage is that coal is self banking, so it is a bit less labor intensive than wood. A good coal fire would burn as much as 2-3 days with only minimal maintenance.

      We also had a coal forced air furnace. It was my job all throughout high school to feed the hopper every winter. Down to the basement, open the hopper (it had a worm feed), and shovel coal into the hopper until it was full. It took about 15 minutes to do. Then open the draft box under the fire in the furnace, and shake the grate for the used coal bits to settle into the cooling box and check to see that the fire box didn’t have “clinkers” in it. If it did, one used a long handled tong and broke the thing into removable pieces and took them out of the fire box to cool before disposal. Clinkers are incomplete combustion residue. It resembles spongy rock and is a sign that your furnace needs maintenance.

      Since I’m female, I was very glad when we moved out of coal country!

  14. Bo Sullivan on October 9, 2016 at 2:59 pm

    Here is one catalog that mentions some of the factors involved in burning “hard coal”.

  15. Bo Sullivan on October 9, 2016 at 3:07 pm

    Interesting context pn summer covers (or fronts or pieces) here, which sounds plausible and authoritative – but these are exactly the sorts of internet references that should be taken as a place to start rather than the final word.

  16. Bo Sullivan on October 9, 2016 at 3:12 pm

    Here is a lead on a company that retrofits coal fireplaces for gas inserts.

  17. Julie Clinton on October 9, 2016 at 7:25 pm

    Thanks so much for sharing your time with us! Can’t wait to get caught up on the rest of the blog posts.

    I have the copy of the article from the June 19,1944 Emporia Gazette about my great grandmother and the original house that was moved to Cottonwood. I can send it if you are interested.

    Already sent pics to my daughter – she is definitely jealous!

    • Julie Clinton on October 10, 2016 at 8:40 am

      And no, the last name is not a joke.

      • Ross on October 10, 2016 at 8:54 am

        It’s a good name!

  18. Linda C on October 9, 2016 at 7:45 pm

    The mantels are just lovely…maybe replace that one ugly red tile with some cream color feature tile as it’s in the middle and could look like it was intended as it maybe too hard to find a matching tile.

    • Ross on October 10, 2016 at 11:06 am

      I am confident that I will find a matching tile. It just may take a while! But so will the whole project!

  19. Bethany Otto on October 10, 2016 at 8:09 am

    You said your house has no coal room, and I was thinking that wouldn’t they have needed coal for the furnace that put the steam into the radiators as well? If not, what was the source of fuel for that?

    • Ross on October 10, 2016 at 11:04 am

      Good point!

      I am just guessing that the coal was kept in the carriage house.

      Or maybe it was in the basement, and just not shown on the drawings.

      • Bethany Otto on October 10, 2016 at 12:24 pm

        I can’t remember if you have ever posted pictures of your undoubtedly cool basement; if not, we would sure like to see it sometime!

  20. EJ on October 10, 2016 at 9:23 pm

    Ross, I especially enjoyed this post. I have a warm spot in my heart for beautiful old fireplaces. I don’t know if you remember the sad ugly fireplace we have (617 Exchange) We have pics of the original. I would love to find one that looks like the little corner fireplace in the round room. Any suggestions where we might look? I found one at the Antique Mall here in Emporia but it was way too big.

  21. Carrie Segura on October 11, 2016 at 2:36 am

    My heart almost stopped. THIS is the post I’ve been dying to see….THE FIREPLACES. I would have bought that house just for those breathtaking fireplaces. Bless you.

  22. Eric U. on October 12, 2016 at 10:07 am

    It’s a pleasure to have met them; thanks for the tour!

  23. Karrin on October 23, 2016 at 12:24 pm

    After reading this post, I too became fascinated with how coal fireplaces worked. Just found a couple of places that helped:

    Video of how to light Victorian coal burning fireplace. Interesting, but kind of scary!

    Here.

    Here.

    I thought this was an interesting article, although specific to Columbus, OH, and more about gas lighting, it makes one want to investigate the conversion process in one’s own city.

  24. Nicole on November 21, 2016 at 9:37 am

    Hello !

    I am watching your blog from Québec. Love it. Thanks for sharing.

  25. Jennifer HT on January 20, 2017 at 11:50 pm

    I feel like I have been under a rock and unaware that you have been detailing this amazing work of love. I hesitate to comment so far back (I started at the beginning I think… week or months ago. I have lost all track of time while day dreaming about your house. It is AMAZING. You made a fantastic choice and are doing this right. I couldn’t scroll any longer and not speak up. You had me at stained glass, finials, telephone closet! But, fireplaces?!?!? OH MY. I was in Kansas, your area this summer and had NO idea. I knew you were restoring, but I couldn’t imagine how much you are doing. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. WOW. Keep up the amazing work and thank for letting the world be a voyeur on the process.

    • Ross on January 21, 2017 at 7:59 am

      Hi Jennifer,

      I loved your comment! So from the heart, and a joy to read! Thank you!

  26. Sandra Lee on March 22, 2017 at 3:43 pm

    Love the postings Ross! I just found out about your labor of love yesterday and have enjoyed reading about all the details. Thanks Ross!

    • Ross on March 22, 2017 at 4:19 pm

      Nice to meet you, Sandra!

  27. Sandra Lee on March 22, 2017 at 6:55 pm

    Almost caught up with all posts and I agree the library mantel is my favorite. The round bedroom with the blue tiling is a close second. But the lone red tile in the octagonal tiling of that mantel is beyond the pale. What’s up with that?? I agree a drunk worker who hung a tile upside down and perhaps had an extra red tile decided to complete the mixture. Must have been color blind. If red green color blind may have looked brown or gray to that person. ???? Only thing that’s makes sense. Anyone seeing color would not have chosen red even if drunk or falling down drunk. 🙂 thanks for noticing I posted a response. Congratulations on your continued progress. You have come such a long way!! Again when I am able I plan to send you a donation toward your continued efforts. Do I donate through GoFundMe?. I am in Overland Park and Emporia is just down the highway. Can I see your masterpiece when in town visiting?

    • Ross on March 22, 2017 at 7:37 pm

      You can donate through GoFundMe if you like!

      And, please let me know if you come to Emporia. I will give you a grand tour of the Cross House!

  28. Tony on May 6, 2017 at 10:07 pm

    Ross, it’s off topic but what do you know about terra cotta brick mantels? Ive been curious about them for awhile now but cant find much information about them. For example, what kind of catalog were they ordered from? Do you know of any links to said catalogs? Were they considered high class? As always I appreciate your time and hard work.

    Tony

    • Ross on May 7, 2017 at 9:27 am

      Hi Tony!

      Alas, I know nothing about terra-cotta brick mantels.

      Sorry!

      • Tony on May 7, 2017 at 9:52 am

        That’s Okay! Thank you anyway!

    • Eric U. on May 7, 2017 at 10:25 am

      Hi Tony – I know a little bit about ornamental brick mantels. Yes; they were (and still are) considered high class – they were much more costly than plain brick mantels. Moulded and patterned bricks were offered by many late 19th- and early 20th-century brick manufacturers. Here is a link to one such catalog… several mantel designs are shown.

      • Ross on May 7, 2017 at 10:44 am

        Wow. What an amazing catalog! Thanks, Eric!

      • Tony on May 7, 2017 at 1:30 pm

        Thank you Eric!!!!!

  29. Sandra Lee on May 7, 2017 at 2:23 am

    This post is so wonderful and detailed and it was lovely to see it again. Getting back to the red tile and the only thing that makes any sense is red/green color blindness, The tile would “look like it belonged but as a contrast.” It would have looked like a contrasting dark tile and not offensive. For example, the garish bright yellow car color looks like gray or beige to a color- blind person. I am convinced that was the issue. However the workman could have been a stark raving lunatic also ???? Also, red/green color blindness would render that lone red tile as appearing to match the woodwork. That is my verdict:-)???? That’s my story and I am sticking to if hahaha

  30. Jammin' Jan on September 9, 2017 at 12:32 am

    I believe you’re forgetting how the family lived in a house like this. They had servants, who stored the dishes, silver and table linen in the butler’s pantry, close to the dining room. The pantry with the ice box was for the food stuffs, pots and pans and mixing bowls.
    The difference between the glorious decorations on mantels was simply because the “public rooms” were more detailed, to show off the workmanship. The “family” rooms, sitting room, or library were more sedate in decoration. You did notice the difference between the door knobs and surrounds between the family side and servant side. The kitchen was only visited by the wife to supervise.
    You’ve done a wonderful job working on this beautiful home and I wish you all success in your project. Good job.

    • Ross on September 9, 2017 at 8:13 am

      Hi, Jan!

      I am a little confused by your comment.

      I am highly aware of the upstairs/downstairs aspects of the Cross House. So, too, with the differences between the butler’s pantry and the main pantry.

      Also, there is no consistency between the elaborateness of public and private mantels. In the round bedroom, which is private, the mantel is highly elaborate. So, too, with the library mantel. In the dining room, where one would expect a really incredible mantel, the mantel is quite sedate.

      • Dodi on September 9, 2017 at 10:13 pm

        Ah but Ross, the dining room would have been the focal point for crystal! The china cabinet and matching fireplace is the perfect backdrop for the unused serving pieces. Unlike today, these were highly decorative in their own right. I have a serving bowl from the time period, and even though it is a transfer pattern, it is highly decorative. Imported too, from Slovakia! And “huge” is a relative term; the thing is about a quart serving size. My dad said that his mom used to serve green beans in it…and only green beans. He was born in 1928, so the custom might have been the same at that late period.

  31. Burr Nelson on March 23, 2020 at 1:29 pm

    When it comes to the fireplaces what’s the little tiny hole in the metal screen at the bottom? It looks like you insert a key to turn on the gas to light the fireplace. Are any of the keys there

  32. Karyn Semple on May 20, 2020 at 12:57 am

    That sparrow tile just makes my heart flutter! When I was 21 I went to look at an apartment on the main floor of an old house and fell in love with the fireplace. It wasn’t functional but to me at the time it looked original and it was such a selling feature. Never mind that the apartment was highly impractical for me at the time, it had one small bedroom for 3 of us (couple and a baby) but man did I ever want it just for the fireplace.

  33. Katherine Lang on November 10, 2023 at 4:01 pm

    I’m doing some closer looking into my family history, and so, I’m really exploring this site. Harrison Cross is my great-great grandfather. Mary Kathryn Cross was my great grandmother, so the girly bedroom was hers! I knew her, and she told a few stories of her very young childhood. I’m trying to gather more information now, but I’ll let you know (if you’re interested) what else I find.
    Aside from family history, I have always loved old houses and watch every show I can about restoration. I’ve already learned so much more from your site and the associated links. I am going to have to plan a trip and beg a tour before I die.

    • Ross on November 10, 2023 at 10:20 pm

      Katherine! What a thrill to meet you! And, yes, let me know whatever you find! Ross

  34. DmR on November 28, 2023 at 8:52 pm

    Ross, This is Annie from JMG. I followed your posted link just out of curiosity and I’ve been here over an hour! I am so impressed and sooooo envious! You are creating a masterpiece that will live on for generations! I love it!

    • Ross on November 28, 2023 at 8:55 pm

      Annie! BIG hug!!!!!!!!!

      • DmR on November 28, 2023 at 9:06 pm

        Thanks. 🙂 Still wading thru the pages, quite a project!

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply





Your email address will NEVER be made public or shared, and you may use a screen name if you wish.