A. L. A. Himmelwright - The Model Fireproof Farmhouse at Rock Lodge

The Model Fireproof Farmhouse At Rock Lodge

Two years prior to the publication of The San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, Himmelwright set out to personally prove the merits of fireproof construction, adding to his thinking a philosophy of environmental engineering, sustainable building and permaculture. He purchased 47 acres (190,000 m2) of land about 45 miles (72 km) from New York City in Stockholm, New Jersey, and in 1907 completed the construction of what he called, a "Model Fireproof Farm House". Fire is a big danger on farms, and Himmewright believed it could be prevented with the use of stone found in the immediate environment. The setting for what is now known as "the Stone House" is on a hill or knoll and is in use today as a residence and overnight rental facility at the nonprofit Rock Lodge Club, a nudist resort. To give the setting a picturesque feel, and to provide pretty views from the model fireproof farmhouse, Himmelwright dredged land below the knoll and built a spring-fed lake, now known as Rock Lodge Pond, a popular summertime nudist swimming destination that is considered the centerpiece of Rock Lodge Club.

When first constructed, features of the model fireproof farmhouse included a state-of-the-art wood fired water system which pumped spring water to a third-floor holding tank; a coal fired furnace with radiators in each room for heat; a similarly stone built garage of sufficient size to accommodate two large touring cars; and awnings and shutters with a concrete sidewalk all around.

The walls are of granite, the floors and ceilings of poured concrete with steel reinforcement, the roof is lined with copper. Woodwork, plaster, brickwork, and concrete were all specced to be of "first class materials and workmanship". Himmelwright estimated its lifespan at 400–500 years.

In 1913 Himmelwright published detailed engineering plans, drawings, and instructions on how to build replicas of the Stone House in a book, A Model Fire-Proof Farm House or Country Home: Practical Suggestions for Economical and Enduring Construction, With Complete Plans and Specifications of A Model Building, dedicated to his son Kenneth who had drowned in the lake in 1911 at age 14. The book was first published by The Neale Publishing Company of New York, and republished by Rock Lodge Club on the 100th anniversary of its building in 2007.

Himmelwright was an environmentalist before his time whose belief in sustainable building practices is strongly stated in his preface to A Model Fire-Proof Farm House. He wrote:

"A new epoch in home building is at hand. The wasteful, shortsighted and ephemeral methods of the past have become intolerable, and on account of our depleted timber supply, will soon be impossible.

The conservation of the world's natural resources is attracting universal attention, and will undoubtedly receive a large portion of the best thought and consideration of the present generation. The conservation of individual resources and energy will follow as a natural consequence, and that is the keynote of this volume.

"The reckless destruction of our forests by the early settlers, supplemented by the wasteful practices of the large lumber companies, and finally, the enormous destruction by forest fires, have brought about greatly changed conditions. Our timber supply has been depleted to such an extent that according to statistics prepared by the United States Government, we take from our forests each year, not counting loss and waste, three and one half times their yearly growth; in other words, we use forty cubic feet per acre for each twelve cubic feet grown. We use two hundred and sixty cubic feet per capita, while Germany uses thirty-seven and France thirty-five. The large per capita consumption in the United States is attributable partly to our great fire losses, but principally to the ephemeral and flimsy character of our buildings. If the present rate of demand and supply is not changed, our timber resources will be entirely exhausted in a few years. Such a result would have far reaching consequences, and would be a national calamity. This can be averted, (1) by substituting incombustible and more durable materials for wood, and (2) by employing proper safeguards and appliances, thus preventing a large part of the annual fire loss.

"Twenty to fifty years ago when timber was abundant and the best only was selected for building purposes, much more durable houses were built than at present. Large sized and heavy pieces were used for the framing and the beams. These were frequently hewn by hand, so as to utilize the heart which is the best and most durable part of the timber.

"The cost of lumber is now from two to five times as great as formerly, and the quality is generally much inferior. Wood or "frame" buildings, as now constructed, are serviceable only for periods of from twenty to fifty years. After this comparatively short term, they become unsafe for human habitation and can be utilized only for a few years more for storage, after which, if not demolished, they decay, become dangerous, and finally fall to pieces. By frequent painting, prompt repairs, renewals of roofs, sills, etc., the period of serviceability may sometimes be extended twenty to thirty years longer, but this presumes a practical knowledge of building construction, the exercise of intelligent watchfulness and judgment, and a willingness to expend money for repairs before such repairs are actually necessary— a combination seldom found in present day owners. "The home builders of the past generally took cognizance of their own immediate necessities and requirements only, and planned and built their homes accordingly. Such a course was the direct result of the fact that the serviceability of the buildings was limited to a period of one or two generations. In the design of a building which is to endure for an indefinite period, other features and a broader policy must influence the design. Instead of planning for his own family or his immediate successors, the designer of an enduring home must plan it so as to fulfill the requirements of an average family. Planned in this way, such a building will always be suitable for a majority of its future occupants and will have the maximum value."

Himmelwright concluded the introduction, adding these comments linking family values to engineering and sustainable building practices:

"A home built of durable and incombustible materials...conserves the resources and energies of the original owner and all his descendants. Its deterioration is inappreciable for from ten to twenty generations, during which time it retains its full original value, plus the added value due to the subsequent development and improvement of the section in which it is located. Consequently, it is a valuable inheritance to each succeeding generation. Furthermore, such a home is cumulative in its tendency and effect, in so far as its contents are concerned. Being durable, and fire-proof, it becomes a permanent receptacle for all the objects of intrinsic and sentimental value, accumulated by the original owner and his descendants; each generation adding its quota to the family treasures, until the home becomes a veritable storehouse of ever increasing value, not only financially, but educationally, and artistically. True, there may be periodical divisions and distributions of some of the contents, but this involves no sacrifice of actual value, and articles removed in this way often find their way back to such a home after the lapse of time. But by far the most important feature of a home of this character is the security and permanent immunity it affords against destruction by fire.

"An enduring and fire-proof home, therefore, conserves the energy and resources of the successive owners, assures permanent safety, comfort and satisfaction, and unlike a frame building, it retains indefinitely its full value as an asset and inheritance."