HearthMasters, Inc.
Seven winners took trophies home at the fourth annual Masonry Heater Association contest at Wildacres Retreat in North Carolina April 9, 2011. The contestants were required to design and build their own project alone or with assistance from others in their company. Entrants submitted their best work to be judged by a panel of experts who scored each entry on a point system based on skill in craftsmanship, aesthetics, creative use of materials, and overall design. The judges did not know who the entrants were. Judging was particularly difficult, because all of the entries were completed by skilled craftsmen and all of the work was exceptional. Larger photos of the projects are available at www.mha-net.org.
The Winners are:
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| Bell Heater by Jim Frisch |
Masonry Heater Category:
First place- Jim Frisch of Western Masonry, Inc. in Spokane, Washington. Modification of existing fireplace and floor framing, installed a custom corner bell heater with heated hearth bench. The shell is finished with Eagle Mountain and Chief Cliff Ledgestone and a Bluestone mantel and hearth.
Second place-Dave Wilcox of
Wilcox Masonry in Wapakoneta, Ohio. 
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| Custom-designed bake oven by Jessica Steinhauser |
Bake Oven Category:
First place- Jessica Steinhauser of Stonehouse Pottery in Guelfph, Ontario, Canada. This striking red tile indoor cook oven or “tischherd” was designed and built using eight shades of red for the kachel tiles, inspired by the famous French brand of Le Creuset cookware. The corners are beveled and stainless steel doors and trim were used to finish the look in a modern style home.
First place- Jessica Steinhauser of Stonehouse Pottery in Guelfph, Ontario, Canada. This striking red tile indoor cook oven or “tischherd” was designed and built using eight shades of red for the kachel tiles, inspired by the famous French brand of Le Creuset cookware. The corners are beveled and stainless steel doors and trim were used to finish the look in a modern style home.
Third Place- Marty Pearson of Stone Comfort in Cumberland, Rhode Island. (photo coming soon)
Masonry Category: First place—Jeffrey Owens of JTO Masonry Construction, Inc. in Allen Park, Michigan. This spiral staircase is a reproduction of a 12th century castle stairway. That is fully hidden with functional bookcases. The stairs provide access from the master bedroom to a fitness room on the basement. The owners wanted something unique so I cam up with this Gothic design with a candle niche at both entries. For authenticity, the staircase was to rotate clockwise in order to put right-handed attackers at a disadvantage trying to wield their swords as they walked up the right side.
The Jerry Frisch Award
The winner of the Jerry
Frisch Award this year was Doug Hargrave of Mid-Atlantic Masonry Heat
in Troy, Virgina. The award is named for one of the MHA founders,
Jerry Frisch, who has gone above and beyond in helping the Masonry
Heater Association of America and its members, and who has willingly
shared information about building masonry heaters and bake ovens.
Each year the MHA award committee and current president selects
someone who shares Jerry’s commitment to the industry. Previous
winners were Jerry Frisch, Tom Trout and Norbert Senf. Doug Hargrave
has been instrumental in his role as Treasurer, getting the MHA on
track with finances, and completing professional reports and systems
for the organization.
The Masonry Heater Association of North America hosts an annual meeting and workshop in Wildacres, North Carolina and several workshops in different locations through out the United States where masons can learn how to build masonry heaters and bake ovens. The Certified Heater Mason program, also sponsored by the MHA, is available to MHA members. A new educational program has been released this year, which is designed to introduce masons to how masonry heaters work and how they are constructed.
Wood-burning masonry
heaters are site-built high-efficiency appliances that utilize
thermal mass and interior channels to contain heat, then release it
slowly throughout the day. Masonry heaters, also known as
Kachelofens, Ceramic stoves, Finnish Heaters (pystuuni), Russian
Stoves, Swedish Heaters (kakelugn or “contra-flow”) have been
used for at least 500 years in Europe, and made their way to to North
America in the 1970's. There are now heater builders across the U.S.
and Canada.
For more information contact Richard Smith, Executive Director of the Masonry Heater Association of North America at 520-883-0191 or execdir@mha-net.org.
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