The Pedrick-Lawson House located at 515 Ransom Street is part of the Ripon Historical Society.
A grout block form such as this one was used to hand-manufacture blocks used to construct the Pedrick-Lawson House at 515 Ransom St. This wooden form is on exhibit at the Ripon Historical Society.
The grout blocks used to build the Pedrick-Lawson House are eroding and will be replaced.
Grout Block erosion is visible on all sides of the Pedrick-Lawson House.
Grout block uses materials including pebbles.
This is a watercolor painting of the Pedrick-Lawson House at 515 Ransom St. The Ripon Historical Society is fundraising to restore the home.
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The Pedrick-Lawson House located at 515 Ransom Street is part of the Ripon Historical Society.
A grout block form such as this one was used to hand-manufacture blocks used to construct the Pedrick-Lawson House at 515 Ransom St. This wooden form is on exhibit at the Ripon Historical Society.
The grout blocks used to build the Pedrick-Lawson House are eroding and will be replaced.
Grout Block erosion is visible on all sides of the Pedrick-Lawson House.
Grout block uses materials including pebbles.
As mentioned in prior restoration articles, the Pedrick-Lawson House, located at 515 Ranson Street and built in 1856, is made of “grout blocks.”
Grout is a unique form of early concrete mixed with pebbles and small stones. The grout used to construct this early-Ripon house has been deteriorating over the 165 years it has been standing and will be professionally repaired.
The house is owned by the Ripon Historical Society since 1973 and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.
The grout formula used to construct this house was patented and licensed to local “franchise owners” who could manufacture these blocks and sell or use them to build structures.
The first owner and builder of the Pedrick-Lawson house was Marcellus Pedrick (1828-1899). Pedrick came to Ripon in 1849 and also owned the local grout franchise.
While investigating options for restoring the Pedrick-Lawson House, the Ripon Historical Society started to look for the original recipe for its grout blocks.
It was fortunate that another grout historic grout block building was restored in Ripon by then-owners Bob and JoAnn Kleisner. The Kleisners had done similar research and discovered the grout block recipe in Janesville, where it was used there to build the Milton House.
This original recipe includes an ingredient called “hot lime”— a special additive found in quarries which heats up to make the grout material adhere and remain intact longer than the standard Portland cement that is used as concrete today.
The Kleisners brought the grout ingredients recipe to the Ripon Hisorical Society’s attention.
This grout block recipe was then shared with Laib Restoration, Inc., who will be restoring the Pedrick-Lawson Home.
“Terry Laib, founder and owner of Laib Restoration, Inc. in Oshkosh, plus the mason who will be working on the project, almost fell off their chairs,” Ripon Historical Society Administrator Steve Arbaugh said. “To start a project of this importance with the original grout recipe has never occurred.”
The expert mason and architectural restorer who will repair the grout block walls echoed the same sentiment saying “This is amazing for me as a first step into this great project.”
To make grout blocks, the materials mixture is poured into a wooden form. Laib provided one of these forms that was used elsewhere in Wisconsin between 1850-1879 for the Ripon Historical Society display.
This is a watercolor painting of the Pedrick-Lawson House at 515 Ransom St. The Ripon Historical Society is fundraising to restore the home.
Once the grout mixture is poured into the form it is allowed to become firm before the form is then turned over to release the block. The block then completely dries in the open air. The blocks were never kiln or “fire” dried like many modern bricks of today.
Each block in the Pedrick-Lawson Home is 10-inches long by 5-inches tall by 5 inches wide in size. The blocks are also solid and not hollow like today’s cinderblocks.
The grout blocks used to construct the Pedrick-Lawson House are installed “two-blocks-thick,” meaning there are two grout blocks stacked next to each along the exterior walls of the house in a pattern, which physically makes the building stronger.
This also increases the house’s overall weight and durability. The number of blocks on one of the four sides of the building alone totals 2,050 (reminder that they are stacked two-deep) — so although the exact weight of the building is unknown, it must be tons.
Inside the home, a plaster wall finish is adhered directly to the blocks. This keeps the house more air-tight and warmer during winter months even though the original house would have been warmed by wood-burning stoves and a fireplace.
Arbaugh noted that the Ripon Historical Society is “truly lucky” to have Laib Restoration, Inc.’s founder and owner Terry Laib to take on the project.
“Laib is known throughout the state of Wisconsin as the premier restoration expert,” he said. “It looks like this might be the last restoration project that he personally works on as he also wishes to retire.”
Laib’s son, Matt, will continue the business and Arbaugh noted that having someone with Laib’s knowledge and expertise is important, as the society wants to maintain the original condition and design integrity of the Pedrick-Lawson Home.
Repairing the grout is only one item to be restored.
Roof cornices and flashing will be repaired, two chimneys will be rebuilt and tuckpointed, wooden storm windows and window sills repaired, porches repaired and more.
“This is not just a house, it’s Ripon’s home — and the Ripon Historical Society and donors want to preserve it for another 165 years,” Arbaugh said.
To make donations to restore and save this jewel in Ripon visit www.riponhistory.org and click on “donate now.” Individuals also mail a check to the Ripon Historical Society, 508 Watson St., Ripon, WI 54971.
The Ripon Historical Society is the oldest continually operating historical society in Wisconsin. It is open Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information follow us at Facebook/riponhistory or www.riponhistory.org
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