Frederick M. Hueston, PhD

It was a hot morning and I was on the road again. This time I was headed somewhere in the deep south, in Alabama.  

After I woke up in my dismal roadside motel room, I got dressed and headed out to the parking lot to my rental car in search of a local greasy spoon for a good cup of joe and some down-home grits with my usual bacon and eggs. 

I walked out to the parking lot and realized I had forgotten where I parked. Also, I forget what kind of car I rented. No, it’s not about getting old. This is what happens when you travel all the time! 

So, I took the key fob, held it in the air and hit the panic button. Lo, and behold! My rental car was only a few steps away.  I got in, grabbed my cell phone and asked Siri for local restaurants. Most of the fast food places came up, but one caught my attention. I kid you not, it was called Flo’s. Must be an omen, so I asked Siri or directions. 

Then, just as I was about to pull out of the parking lot, my cell phone rang. It was an architect who was putting together some specs on a historic home that had a lot of limestone. He was wondering if I could do an inspection and tell him if it was restorable, and what would be the procedure for restoration. I told him I was on the road and it would have to wait till I got back. I next asked him where the project was located. Now, talk about an omen – it was only an hour away from where I was staying. I told him it was his lucky day, and I could take a look at it the next day. He told me he would send me all the info he had on the project, and he would meet me at the location the following morning.

When I pulled up to the house the next morning, it was one of those large plantation-style houses with multi-story large white pillars, upper balcony, the works. It looked a lot like the house in Gone with the Wind.  

As I pulled up, a tall gentleman who looked a lot like Clark Gable was on the front porch, He waved to me and I introduced myself. We tapped elbows. Yup, this is the new norm. I wonder if we will ever shake hands again? 

He opened the front door and we walked into a large circular foyer. There were numerous columns and stairs up both sides that at first glance looked like limestone. He went on to describe that limestone and what type it was, where it came from etcetera, etcetera. 

On closer inspection, I noticed there were numerous cracks in the columns and the steps. I listened to his spiel while I began to do my inspection. As I looked closely, I noticed several areas where there was rebar showing through several tiles on the floor (see photo). I also noted that the texture of the stone was not characteristic of this type of limestone. 

All of a sudden I realized I wasn’t dealing with limestone, but a cast stone! The rebar was a dead giveaway, since when they manufacture cast stone, they always place metal rods in it to strengthen it.  I also noted that there appeared to be form impressions.

When they pour the concrete into a form, it will sometimes leave an imprint. I looked up at the architect and had to tell him he was wrong — this was not limestone, but a cast stone. 

I realized I wasn’t dealing with limestone, but a cast stone! The rebar was a dead giveaway, since when they manufacture cast stone, they always place metal rods in it to strengthening it. I also noted that there appeared to be form impressions. When they pour the concrete into a form, it will sometimes leave an imprint.

Now, if you ever had to tell an architect he was wrong, then you know the argument I was about to have. He told me that in the 1920s they did not use cast stone. I told him he was also wrong about that, and he said, “Prove it,” with a scowl.

So I pulled out my phone and asked Siri about cast stone. This is what I found:  Cast stone has been a prime building material for thousands of years. The earliest known use of cast stone dates from about 1138 in the Cité de Carcassonne, France.[1] Cast stone was first used extensively in London in the 19th century [2] and gained widespread acceptance in America in 1920.[3]

I showed him my phone and he just shrugged his shoulders and said, “OK, OK. You win.”  Then I told him the good news – it can be restored, and I would even prepare a spec. 

Well, another case solved. By the way, I found that restaurant called Flo’s. It was your typical Southern diner, and boy, was it good.


The Stone Detective is a fictional character created by Dr. Frederick M. Hueston, PhD, written to entertain and educate. Dr. Fred has written over 33 books on stone and tile installations, fabrication and restoration and also serves as an expert for many legal cases across the world. Fred has also been writing for the Slippery Rock Gazette for over 20 years. 

Send your comments to fhueston@stoneforensics.com.