I recently bought a renovated house built in 1912. There is a fireplace mantel in the basement right under the fireplace on the first floor. Would houses built around that time ever have functioning fireplaces in the basement? The basement is mostly unfinished, so it's unlikely one have been added later...
Detroit | Rebirth in Detroit
Original Air Date: June 01, 2017
Season 38, Episode 26
Ask TOH | Hawaii Makes 50!
Original Air Date: June 01, 2017
Season 15, Episode 26
TV Listings
Find TV listings for This Old House and Ask This Old House in your area.
My sister added a free standing stove to her 1950's home. They used it for years to heat the entire house as the basement was full size and the heat rose through the floors nicely.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was a fireplace there in the basement. It may have been bricked over when the fireplace was deemed unusable, or possibly to improve energy efficiency. It also could have been bricked over when a freestanding stove was installed, in which case there may be an opening into the flue above the mantle.
In large turn of the century homes it was common to have a laundry and drying room in the basement.
Jack
It may have been bricked over when the fireplace was deemed unusable, or possibly to improve energy efficiency.