Stone walls have long been a feature of New England landscapes. But, as Robert Frost said, "Something there is that doesn't love a wall." It seems now that it is greed that doesn't love a wall. As reported on NPR this morning, people are stealing the stones on vacant properties and selling them on Craig's List!
If you have a stone wall on your property, you may wish to repair it so that it doesn't invite pilfering. [Pilfering is defined as stealing in small quantities. I can imagine that anyone who steals stones, can't be doing it in large quantities!] Alan and Gill Bridgewater's Stonework: Building Rock Gardens, Walks, Walls, and Ornaments [693.1 BRI] or the video, Stonemasonry for the Beginner [721 STO] may have helpful hints.
To read about the history of New England's stone walls, look for these books the next time you visit:
Allport, Susan. Sermons in Stone: The Stone Walls of New England and New York. [725 ALL]
Thorson, Robert M. Stone by Stone: The Magnificent History in New England's Stone Walls. [725 THO]
The following recommendation is only tangentially related to stone walls, Andy Goldsworthy: Rivers and Tides: Working with Time [DVD 730.92 RIV]. Goldsworthy is a artist who works with natural materials in natural settings. The DVD is fascinating and a delight for the eye!
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