The Washington herald., 1910-07-17

Il took a Detrolt man, J. T. Kerr, four
years TO construct his one-piece, fire.
proof cement house. There is not anoth-
er like 1t In the world.
Mr.. Kerr built the house all by him
self. which seems all the more remark
able owing to the fact that he had
never before mixed a shovelful Of ce-
ment No plans or drawings were
made. The mortar box being the build
er's Ink bottle and the shovel his pen.
With these he wrought out the ideas as
they came.
At first glance the house seems to be
constructed of blocks. But this effect
is produced by lines Of green paint ar
tistically applied, to make the exterior
resemble cut stone.
On a Sand Bank.
The site chosen for the house was
over q bed Of sand and gravel about
six feet deep. \ trench was first dug
down to the solid clay. Then the
molds were placed In this. and as the
walls were completed Il was found that
they had absorbed nearly all the sand
from the cellar. Thus the cellar was
lug and the wall built az the same
time.
The molds used were one foot In
depth. and the wall made one foot thick.
Within the outer molds and along the
center Of the wall a number Of small
molds four inches thick and a foot
wide. were placed four inches apart.
Also moids for the chimneys. AS soon
~,4a
were Withdrawn. leaving the wall hol-
low and dampness proof
windows Are Peculiar.
Perhaps the most peculiar part OF the
house Is it's windows. which have neither
frames or sashes. but consist OF one
large piece OF glass set In the cement
wall
| frames were placed and a groove or
hollow one inch wide and two inches
deep nodded on zach side. AS soon
as the wall was finished these frames
were knocked out. and the glass was
placed by first showing IL two inches
into the groove on one side. and allow
ing the other side to enter. then pulling
it out an inch and showing IL an inch
into the other side.
After placing the glass ii was made
/ fast with weak mortar. 80 that when
/ the glass breaks this mortar can easily
be removed. the hollow space made clear,
and a new glass placed in position.
| Though the large windows do not
/ open or shut vet there are eight small
ventiIlating windows, with sash and a
/ pivot In the center. These let in ali the
! fresh air that is necessary.
/ Mr. Kerr believes that for two rea-
/ sons the Sashless windows are superior
/ 10 those In common use. They DO not
allow any dust from the outside TO soil
1 the curtains. and not a breath OF wind
can pass through or around them in cold
weather
The doors like the windows. have no
/ frames. but fl snugly into the grooves
nodded in the cement.
Fire and Insect Proof.
The house Is freproof and insect
proof. From basement to roof an eight
inch fireproof wall forms partition
which divides It into two equal parts.
so that il the furniture should happen
to catch fire on one side It could not
| penetrate to the other. and although
the plaster is fastened to the wall with
out any lath, yet on account Of the hol-
low spaces, no dampness penetrates
from the outside.
A stairway leading TO the tower opens
on 10 the roof, which is a delightful
place 10 SIT or lounge on a hot sum
mers day. Being so thick and hollow.
however. the walls afford protection
from the heat, as well as from the cold.
The bathtub, even, is made of cement,
and also a greater part OF the furnace.