2012 MHA Contest Results

2012 MHA Contest

The MHA sponsors an annual Design/Build contest with three categories: Masonry Heaters, Bake Ovens, and Masonry. Three expert judges assign points to each entry without knowing who the entrant is. Judging was done based on aesthetics, skill in craftsmanship, creative use of materials, and overall design. Thank you to judges Stephen Bushway, current president, and Glen Overk, and Norbert Senf, both past presidents of the MHA.The following are the winners of the 2012 Contest:

Masonry Heater Category

Custom designed stone heater and bake oven by Dan Givens

First Place: Dan Givens Stonecastle Masonry, Ltd. Ester AK

stonecastle@gci.net
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Custom designed tile masonry heater by Jessica Steinhauser

Second Place: Jessica Steinhauser, Stonehouse Pottery, Guelph, Ontario, CA
www.stonehousepottery.com
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Third Place: Custom stone masonry eater and bake oven by Paul Anderson, Dale Anderson Masonry, Inc., Allenton, WI 53002 www.damasonry.com

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Bake Oven Category

First Place: Historic oven rebuild by project by Mike Wurzbacher and Walt Kelly
Mike Wurzbacher, Squirrel Tail Ovens, Red Lion, PA www.squirreltailovens.org mikross53@yahoo.com and Walt Kelly, Fire and Stone Masonry, Danville, PA 17821 PH 570-275-2619 fireston@ptd.net _________________________________________________________

Second Place: Adobeand brick finished wood-fired bake oven by Max and Eva Edleson, Firespeaking, Deadwood, Oregon Ph 541-964-3536 www.firespeaking.com

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Masonry Category

Outdoor Kitchen: Masonry design/build project by Hendrick Lepel

First Place: Hendrick Lepel, Kinsale, Co.Cork, Ireland
Ph 00353 86 8838400

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Second Place: Dan Peltier and Jay Krabel, Design Masonry, LLC., Tomah, WI 64660 PH 608-387-9449 www.designmasonryllc.com
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Stone stream and waterfall by Dan Givens, Stonecastle Masonry, Ltd.

Third Place: Dan Givens, Stonecastle Masonry, Ltd, Ester AK 99725 PH 907-474-3465 www.damasonry.com
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Other Entries worthy of mention:

Custom designed stone faced masonry heater by FireSpeaking, Deadwood, OR

Masonry heater/bake oven by Max and Eva Edleson, Firespeaking, Deadwood, Oregon 541-964-3536 www.firespeaking.com
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Masonry fireplace by Gene Padgitt, HearthMasters, Inc. Independence, MO

Man-made stone two-sided circulating fireplace by Gene Padgitt, HearthMasters, Inc.Kansas City, MIssouri www.chimkc.com

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Visit www.mha-net for more information

Wildacres Poem

A Poem by Tom Marc
Wildacres

It’s the time to think about Wildacres

Learning from the worlds’ best fire makers

Convection, radiation, thermal mass and unburned gas

This is the only place you’ll get this class

Getting the most heat from a piece of wood

Less pollution, less cost, more heat- all good.

Our gracious hosts Kathryn, Kiva and Mike,

making sure that everything is just right

Listen for the bell- 3 squares a day in the mess hall

So good, you want to eat it all.

You’ll learn from the best, with bricks, limes, and clays

From master masons, you’ll see the best ways

To build beautiful heaters of stone, mortar and bricks

You can be sure to learn a few tricks

Top down fires, refractory clay, cement and the EPA

All these and more at the annual meeting of MHA

With Soapstone, bricks, sand, and clay

Shovels, trowels and levels, grown men and women play

In 6 days you can build a Contraflow

Man, you should see that thing glow.

An then there is also the five run

A big honkin’ heater, what fun.

And don’t forget the Tulikivi,

So velvety smooth, blue and pretty.

Wild contraptions like the Rocket stove

Seen a 30’ horizontal chimney bench before?

There’s also a giant bake oven for Pizza Party Day

Thin crust pizzas and beer, there’s no better way

The amazing pizza, thin crisp and chewy

You can be sure there’s always plenty

Five heaters all a glow, drinks – free flow

Warms your heart, body and soul,

Heaters yes, surely Works of art

Keeping fires burning in our home’s hearts

A crazy beautiful cast of characters from all over the world

Gather to see smoke from chimneys unfurl.

Marty, Lars, Norbert, Pat, Tom, Worm and Jeff

Your sides gonna hurt, when too much you laugh

The Blue ridge Mountains, fog, mist, rain, and sun

You’re guaranteed to have some fun

Sweet music has filled the hollow the last few years,

Radiant Heat Ramblers sweet strings, candy for the ears

The MHA, it’s about wood, not coal

Chopping renewable resources is good for the soul

Camaraderie up on the Airy Mount

For 15 years, too many good times to count

Learn About Guatemala and Masons on a Mission

Building clean burning cookers, reducing disease and pollution

Times are tough, it’s true

Wildacres will be a rewarding break for you

A talented group of masons will inspire

To once again connect to the “ Spirit of the Fire”