This is Just Sad! S4 EP4 

The loss of the historic church is so upsetting. It points out that fire is the biggest threat to historic communities, and can’t be regulated through preservation ordinances. I believe that it is critically important to photograph all buildings in historic neighborhoods in case there is a fire. Don’t assume that somebody else has done it, or that you will remember what something looked like once it is gone. This is an excellent role for an armchair preservationist who doesn’t have the skills to.replicate millwork or salvage windows. Use the camera on your cellphone to take pics and upload them into an inventory of what makes your community special. Barring that, encourage every homeowner to take lots of pics of their own homes. If nothing else, it is helpful for insurance purposes.

Two churches? Suspicious. Glad you salvaged some of the old church

Seeing that neighborhood from the air...it really is so very sad. I imagine back in the day, when that area was full of families, hard working people, kids on bikes, Sunday church goers...that fabric of America. So very sad indeed. Thank you for all you do.

So sad that the beautiful old church was lost. Unfortunately it is happening more and more in lots of places. They were works of art. Continue to be impressed by your efforts to do things right as you go.

Caleb your patience,perseverance and attention to detail never ceases to amaze me. Please give your back plenty of time to heal!

Thanks for reaching out to save as much of the old church as soon possible. We all have a responsibility to help save history. Here in Denver's Lower Highland neighborhood we have a beautiful old church with large stained glass windows at the end of our block. The congregation is a very good neighbor, and they lovingly keep the church in good shape.

Try to salvage the things you can. Incorporate these things in your home. Doing this ensures the history will not be forgotten. ❤

The loss of that beautiful church is such a terrible shame ... thank goodness you have rescued the wooden window arch (which is an utterly sublime piece❤) its history lends it even greater charm. Always lovely to get an update from you .. the walls look amazing !

Do you watch Escape to rural France with Dan? If you don’t, I think you would like it. He is doing an amazing job.

"Prep work makes the dream work." Truer words were never spoken.

Given the ornate faucet you have for use outside, when you re-plumb that line, you might consider adding a shut-off valve inside, and a drain spigot between it and the outside faucet, to get the water out each fall.

I feel sometimes that we are fighting a losing battle. I hear chainsaws in my neighborhood all the time. For some reason people have this vendetta against trees here. My neighbor down the street cut five perfectly healthy trees around his house. This is a neighborhood that back in the 1930's planted rows of pine trees as windbreaks as part of the CCC plan to provide natural wind breaks and erosion stoppers. Like my best friend says all we can do is keep our own little slice as best as we can!

Oh, god! I hope you haven’t done your back any long term damage. Back injuries can hang around a lot longer than you might initially think. Such a shame about the damage to the churches, but if you’re able to salvage some materials, at least it’s not a total loss.

I heard about St Augustine’s fire. I hate that they have demolished it. It’s unfortunate they wouldn’t rebuild. These old churches are being lost so quickly across the world. I’m glad you saved some of it from going to the landfill. I wish I lived out there I’d probably have done the same as you did. The urban explorers were very upset with the loss alongside us historians.

The loss of the church is agonizing and a loss to the community. Glad you're feeling kinda sorta better.

Hello Caleb... Sorry to hear about the Church. I'm glad you were able to get some pieces. Your walls are looking great! Looking forward to the next episode. Warmer days are coming. Hugs❤

Suggestion 14:49 for that outside water spigot on the front of your house: I would suggest putting a master cutoff valve in the basement so that you can turn off the outside spigot when not in use. The last thing you want is to have some neighborhood kid turn your water on during the middle of the night or when you're not home and let a couple thousand gallons of water run out into the street. I prefer using a brass ball valve inside as a master cutoff, they don't drip and don't have to change rubber gaskets every couple of years. Something to think about and save yourself some grief down the line.

Happy birthday Kaleb. It's always sad when a piece of history is destroyed. Hopefully something nice will replace it. It won't be as nice though. Oh and a big happy birthday to you.

As a person who has had four back surgeries, I can attest to your suffering. Ibuprofen, moist heat on mid back muscles, ice pack on lower back on L4, L5, and L6 region will relax muscles and reduce swelling in the lower back joints. Take it easy for a couple of weeks and wear a back brace when working. It's important to take it easy for a couple of weeks because if you insist that you're alright and do the macho thing, then you're just going to keep aggrevating the injury and make it worse.

What a sad loss! That church was beautiful.

NHL 3.5 is Not for pointing - it is for external rendering on the lower part of a wall where you will have splash back from rain hitting the ground, i.e. you use it on the first 1 meter. NHL 3.5 only has circa 30% Lime Content. NHL 2.0 is the best NHL and has a Lime content of maximum 40% (the remaining 60% is filler and Not Lime). If you wish to use an NHL then use NHL 2.0 for Pointing. The correct Lime to use is CL 90 - this is what was originally used to build this house. CL 90 has 90% Lime. It is far superior to NHL Lime (2.0/3.5). CL 90 can be used to make a Traditional Hotlime Mix, or it can be slaked to create Lime Putty. Lime Putty needs a minimum of 6 months to mature before you use it. In fact the older the Lime Putty gets, the better it is. You must always store Lime Putty submerged in Water and ensure it never has any air come into contact with it. CL 90 will make Lime Render, Lime Plaster and Lime Wash. It is also way cheaper than NHL and a far far far superior product to use and will last much longer than NHL Limes. Make a Lime mix using CL 90 and put it on the hawk and you will never have it fall off if you turn the hawk upside down. Try that with NHL 2.0/3.5/5.0 and you will have a mess on the floor. Note when you make a Lime wash with CL 90, it will be similar to modern paint in coverage. But if you make a Limewash from NHL, it is very watery and requires coat after coat to build up the layers to cover the wall in Limewash. One coat of CL 90 Limewash will give you a finished product.

Such a pity about the church, that was truly a masterpiece of a structure. I'm so glad you were able to save some remnants. The stone walls are looking terrific. The brick walls in our dirt-floor basement are downright scary in comparison! I'm off now to get ready to view the solar eclipse in about an hour. Can you see it in St. Louis?

Kaleb, a question for you on the brick that needs replacing under your fireplace. Is it possible that the space that they used for running that water line might have been part of an ash pit for the fireplace? If you have a grate or trap door in the floor of the fireplace upstairs that would be an indication that part of that space was originally open allowing for easy clean out of ashes from the fireplace. The brick is definitely some sort of later modification but if the fireplace has a provision for an ash pit you might not have to fill that entire void with stone if you restore the ash pit. Just a thought to save you some time and stone.

The fires are a terrible, try to get as much as you can . You might be able to put it in a garden . You can use the bricks for a walkway . An arch would be so cool in an garden. Great job on the wall.

That wall looks incredible! Hope it'll be nice for the next 100 years :) And I'm so glad you could find enough slate-I'm sure the craftsmen many years ago who shaped them would be happy you have them instead of a dump!

The wall lools really good! You are doing such great work in preserving this house. Glad toa watch as it all gets done!

Is that spigot water pipe going through wall where the old ash clean out was? That could explain the large about of rebricking. Do other places have cleanouts and might this be where you have to restore the clean out?

Please check your fireplace above that patch and see if there is a trap door in the bottom of the fireplace. If there is that spot is the dumping spot for the ashes. And there was an iron door in the wall below the fireplace to be able to clean the dump box. My aunt had one. Just curious.😮

A pneumatic needle hammer would make the job of removing cement done faster with good results, and save your back.

Hi Kaleb today is the eclipse I'm in Louisville Kentucky with my sun glasses for it to happen at 2 in the afternoon. Thanks for sharing this about what has happened to a historic church 😔 sad.

Glad your back is better. Have you given consideration to talking to the demolition crew at the church to see if they might salvage some remaining roof slate for you? Possibly some of the bricks for garden edging or patio pavers? We took out an old chimney in our house and re-purposed the bricks into several yard projects. OH! And a happy belated birthday!

Yes the wall definitely looks really good! The right stair treads on the stairs will just enhance it. Both churches burned? Ideological war casualties? Great episode.

The basement walls are looking great! I have done this before in a 1923 home so I know the work involved. Just run a dehumidifier in spring and summer and you will be amazed how nice and dry it stays with the lime mortar. No musty smelling old basement. They really knew what they were doing with these materials, we've just unfortunately lost the knowledge to care for them properly and people put in the cement and waterproofing.

One of my followers on Instagram shared this with me. I cannot believe how little was saved from this beautiful building. Thank you for saving what you could.

Real shame about the church, but its good some of the spoil will end up being really useful for the renovation of the mansard. My parents reroofed years ago and that cost a fortune. In the UK we have rules about heritage buildings and that made sourcing the slate very, very expensive. 👍👍

I still see slate up there at the church. Maybe you can get the figure on that steeple.

I am so sad that beautiful historic church in your neighborhood burned down. I would guess the cause was likely an unhoused person lighting a fire for warmth and light, but losing control of it. However, I can't tell you how happy I am that you were able to salvage some slate for your roof. That is so perfectly appropriate and I just want to say that it's wonderful that you saved part of the church and will be reusing it in the same neighborhood. Kudos to you!

What an absolute tragedy about those historic churches, especially the one that won’t be rebuilt. St Louis is lucky to have your determination to preserve what you can of its history and legacy. Those walls are looking amazing, and I hope you’re recovering well. The time and effort you’re taking to clean and repair everything really shows. You’re doing incredible work! Thanks for the update and take care.

Caught fire? Probably arson.

Do you know what caused the fires? Is this the work of an arsonist?

Was it arson?

The loss of that beautiful church is devastating as an historic masterpiece and as a cornerstone of your historic neighborhood, where there is so much already lost! So happy you are able to reap some benefit from the remains!

Thank you for saving part of St Auggie’s. I graduated from that beautiful parish in 1967. This breaks my heart. So many wonderful memories. I am very happy you are continuing to honor Old North St. Louis. All the best to you.

That wall looks amazing. Great job. I feel your passion on the losing of our old structures. History is disappearing. It's sad.

Happy Birthday

Caleb, you are doing awesome work and I love that you are such and architectural history buff. I had an idea that you may have thought of already. What about using the window as a window above the front door of the working museum you plan to build when you are able to get Mr. Hall's lot. You can also incorporate the pocket doors you are hanging onto. Please be safe and take care of yourself.

It is such a beautiful church, I wish for its immediate restoration.

Such a loss. I love old architecture and it hurts my soul when a beautiful building is lost. I hope your back feels better soon, don't rush back, rest and heal.

Consider incorporating the window frame as a window over your door into your shop when you rebuild it

The roof is looking great! Good job!

One recommendation for you is to buy a 1910’s era 78RPM shellac record player and some shellac records to play while doing tours!

Such a nice job on the wall! The slate is wonderful and will be great repurposed for your roof. Really smart to salvage as much as you can to be reused. Relax and take care of your back. Happy belated Birthday Caleb!🎂🎉🎈🎁. ❤ to Kim too.

The care you show, not only for your house, but for the entire community and its history is a really beautiful thing

Fabulous job, Caleb! That wall is absolutely gorgeous! 😃👍🏼

I had read some personal stories and pictures from people of churches in St. Louis that had met similar fates. I follow some STL pages on Facebook because I love the city. Every single time one of these amazing churches is lost it shatters my heart. As you said, generations were married, baptized, received First Holy Communion, and were confirmed. The loss of the church will not take away from these beautiful sacraments, but losing the beautiful historical church and the architecture is a tragedy.

So the church is your next project then? 😊

Thanks!

So sad about the church. The one I grew up in had a similar fate when I was in college. It was 19th century and full of cherry and oak. I'm so glad you are rescuing some of the pieces!

really looks good now, nice job!

We’ve lost three landmarks in Cleveland recently to fires, two of which were churches. We feel your pain.

Stonework can be an attractive feature on a home. Pointing the stone brings out its stunning beauty. I've watched RU-vidrs renovate old farmhouses in rural France and Italy and have done the same in their ancient homes.

This was the church my family went to when we lived in the city. I was baptized and made my first communion in this church.

So sorry to hear about tge beautiful church but so glad you're able to rescue some of the materials. Happy Birthday!

Broken slate makes beautiful garden paths

It's cool to see you reusing all of the history building material. Having foundation stones rise out of the ground when it's really wet must have been interesting the first time you noticed.

@Kelly Williams thanks so much for looking up what that wood product you were talking about in the live chat is!

such a sad thing to see the skeletons of that old church... so to say something positive: the wall looks amazing! when you started that project i was like, oh yeah, thats just a stone wall. whatever. but now, in it's new (and not even fully finished!!) shape, i GET it. it looks so clean and welcoming.

My west view looks out on Sk8 Liboriuos, so I share the feeling. I have watched hundreds and hundreds of buildings burn around here over the last almost 20 years, sometimes 2 or 3 times each. None have hit as hard as the three big fires in the last year- St. Liborious, Mullanphy Emigrant Home, and now St. Augustine. It's really discouraging, but at the same time drives me to keep going to save and rebuild what I can. I'm glad you were able to find some unbroken slate to reuse. That was such an amazing roof with great slate. I'm hoping more components can be salvaged, not just wrecked and dumped.

Your basement wall is stunning. I watch castle restoration, especially in France, and your work is as beautiful as any of theirs. I did not know there was such a beautiful old building remaining to be resurrected in St Louis. Thank you for saving this building and for salvaging whatever you could from the church that burned. I feel suspicious that two nearby churches burned within a short time of each other. It hurts to know that the beauty of those buildings is lost. Your work is excellent.

Two churches burning? Arson!

Nice work, Kaleb. 👍. 😮It seems odd to lose two churches to fire in the same neighborhood in a short time frame. Have they determined what caused the fires? What a shame. I think it's great that you picked up what you thought could be repurposed and/or preserved for history.

Caleb, I really admire the work that you do in restoring a historic house like that and the reverence you show in talking about the church and community surrounding you! I have often thought about buying some heritage house here and doing similar, but i would get lazy half way through :P I get to live through you a little this way :)

Happy late birthday I have missed your videos. You are doing something so amazing and incredible keep it up and in no time you’ll be back in the house getting it in shape

The Inkas couldn’t do it better! 😚

I hope you are able to salvage a whole lot more from the burned Church! For pieces to live on at your house would be the best possible outcome for such a sad loss of the building!

Glad you were able to save one of the beautiful architectural elements!

So Sad to lose 2 churches 😪😪 Great job on the stone work 👍🤗 Love Sue❤❤❤🇬🇧❤❤❤

How horribly sad to lose that beautiful church. I hope that whatever replaces it is sensitive to the architecture of the neighborhood. Perfectly fitting that some remnants of the church will be incorporated into your home👍

Your role from house restoration RU-vidr to community leader is such a great thing.

Please take care of your back, I've never hurt my back, or done anything stupid to it, but nonetheless by age 64, it became worn, with issues affecting L5/L6, and that now restricts what I can do and for how long. It can be extremely painful. Look after yoursekf!

So happy to see your restoration efforts using antique techniques. You are restoring actual history! So sorry about the church. It cannot be replaced like it was. But your house will shine for many years to come. Mr Brown would be very proud of you and Kim! Keep up the great work.

Did you ask and they gave you the items from the church? Or did you have to pay for them? I'm just curious how that works.

For cleaning off the foundation stones, a possible solution could using a wire brush drill attachment, or possibly a dremel tool for more precision. Brass or other soft metals similar to the one you're using work great, however there are other types of soft bristle variants as well (maybe even soap+water with the softer brush?), saves both time and any more back worries! I would understand not wanting to damage stones or damaging mortar is a possibility. Keep up the amazing work!

So sad about both of the Churches.😔 On another note you take care of yourself. Your back is so important. I know when we get working on a project it is a tendency to push on to the end. But don't do it. Especially after having your recent episode. If you feel a twing STOP!!!!! I know been there and I want you to do finish your Dream.💕 Okay dokey👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

I love your videos and I love how much you care about the house and the vintage equipment from Mr Brown. You inspired me to buy a vintage woodworking table versus buying a new one.

HAPPY B-DAY CALEB!!! Please be careful, heal well. So sad about the church. Glad you were able to save some things.

Just looking at that burned church breaks my heart. Not only St. Louis history gone but the works of art in stained glass and whatever material was in the Stations of the Cross, the statues, altar and crucifix. I’m glad you have video of the church; I imagine the historical society would gladly take a copy. Was it arson?

Your patience is devine. Your perfection is admirable.

Incredible chapter to your story... emotional about the church slates and of course other parts of the church. I will purchase a table-top book of this home... the incredible photos and history will be inspiring so I hope that one is made.

Get one of those cheap kitchen mats like they use for cashiers, so when you are working in one spot for awhile they are light too so you can easily move from project to project

My mother-in-law does stain glass work and she is making me a mini pain for my windows in my living room I have two windows that sandwich the fireplace and I am going to put it there. I love stained glass. I wish we made homes like they did in the past.

A heads up about your video description that seems to be a tiny bit outdated: “projects completed in 2021” and “projects to be completed in 2022” 🙃

Kaleb, one thought for you that I saw from Carmine Guitars in NYC is to see if you can't get a few big solid pieces of beam lumber that are still in good shape and carve them up and make a guitar or two out of them. Solid body, esp Tele guitars are very easy to make, and it would be a nice little memorial piece. Maybe even three if you can get enough wood. One for you, one for a local museum, one for auction to donate to the recovery for the other church? Made on H&B equipment of course.

I'm sorry you hurt your back. I know how miserable back problems are Also I'm glad you are able to save some materials from the church. It's sad that it burnt but at least you can preserve it at your house. Can't wait to see what's next.

Your stone wall is gorgeously done.

The loss of so, so many churches in the city, particularly the magnificent Catholic churches throughout the city and particularly on the northside is certainly tragic but this one really hurts. To my eye it had it's own mystique and a particularly "vertical" character that was rather unique.

So sad about churches and its great you can get to save so items. You did a great job!

Sorry to hear about the loss of the Church in your neighbourhood. You mentioned the stain glass windows and I wondered if you have considered making a stain glass window with the newer version of Hall and Browns logo? I think that could come out really well, either for the house or the new workshop maybe? 🤔 😀

Your hard work and dedication really shows on every job you do and i thoroughly enjoy following you on your journey to bringing back to life such an important part of history. Such a great sadness with the loss of such a beautiful church 😢 sadly the same vandalism has happened where i live in the uk, our city has lost so many fine buildings and industrial structures from the past and continues to do so or beautiful old buildings are being modified and turned into something truly hideous, it absolutely breaks my heart and makes me mad

The walls look amazing…such an improvement. Sorry about your back though!