A Survey of Cobblestone Masonry in the Rush - Mendon Area
During the past two decades much Interest has been aroused in the architectural significance of the unique cobblestone masonry found around the Rochester, Lake Ontario and Genesee Valley regions. Several authoritative accounts have been made of these cobbLestone structures, two of the more extensive being "Cobblestone Architecture" by Carl F. Schmidt and "Cobblestone Architecture in the Rochester Area" by Gerda Peterich.
Upon inspecting these accounts and speaking with Miss Peterich it seems that the cobblestone masonry in the Rush - Mendon area of Monroe County, considered by Carl Schmidt as a cradle which gave birth to this type of masonry and started It on its development", has never been sufficiently surveyed and catalogued. After traveling over every country lane, unpaved road, and main highway in these two towns, I believe that I have located every example of cobblestone masonry to be found here.
So extensive is the use in this area, of the readily available small, glacial stores, that it would be of little value to catalogue the hundreds of barns, sheds, and even homes in which these cobbles have been used for foundations. Rather, this survey will mention and illustrate the different types of cobblestone foundations and then move into a catalogue and study the ma masonry found in smoke. houses, homes, school buildings and the remains of homes which were constructed mainly of cobblestone.
In this area, all of the cobblestones used came directly from the fields around the farmers' homes. Photo #1 illustrates a field nearly covered with the small cobbles even after years of cleaning up by farmers wishing to rid the land of the annoying rocks. The majority of cobbles used were either of the red Medina sandstone variety or of various grey, brown, or yellowish-tan stones. The story of many of the older natives has it that while the husband was doing the farm work, the women and children would pull a sled or cart covered by a board containing three or four holes of the desired size. excluding pebbles of course. When stones were picked that would fit through the board, excluding pebbles of course, they were brought back to be sorted and used in the construction of the new building.