“In Dick’s Words” is a monthly blog post created by the Friends of Dick Proenneke. Each month we’ll publish an excerpt from one of Dick’s journal entries to learn about what he was building or thinking so many years ago in that month. The posts will lead us on a journey through Twin Lake’s seasons by highlighting Dick’s words and first-hand accounts of his life in what would become Lake Clark National Park. In this first post we’ve selected two of Dick’s diary entries from September 1968 that detail the building of his elegant fireplace. Enjoy!
Line drawing by Fred Hirschmann of Dick Proenneke’s Cabin at Twin Lakes, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. Illustration used by Dick for many years as his rubber stamp for letters and envelopes.
BUILDING A FIREPLACE
In September 50-years ago, Dick Proenneke’s cabin was constructed and he had moved in. Dick had already moved rocks to the cabin and when cement arrived he began to build his rock fireplace.
September 5, 1968: I would need a tub to mix mortar in and had been thinking of a 50-gallon drum. Cut it in two with the wide Sears chisel Babe had given me. All the racket brought Spike & Hope down to see what was going on. The tub edge rolled and hammered flat we chewed the fat awhile.
September 9, 1968: I heard another plane. This one would be a twin engine and sounded like a super widgeon… He asked if he could inspect my cabin and made quite a fuss over it. The nicest cabin he had ever seen he said. The cement – did he bring some? Yes, 6 sacks. We went to unload it. Any lime – no lime. First thing build a good gas can tub to pack rocks and mortar. I cut a can lengthwise a good six inches deep. Made a cradle of light poles with good handles. Set the tub in and nail it fast. A real sturdy rig.
I marked my logs for cutting. I would let them extend into the fireplace two and one half inches. I started moving my rock pile up to the cabin. The colorful rocks lay out along the side where I could see them all. The rest in two piles one on each side of the fireplace location. I packed up three fourths of the pile and decided I would use them up before packing more or at least have some idea how they would come out. I excavated for the base on the inside. Lots of rock no danger of it tipping in time. I plan to extend it six inches behind for better support. Six o’clock Twin Lakes time and I called it a day. Tomorrow will see the hole cut and some stone put in place. I am not sure how it will go not having the lime but I will give it a good try.
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