Masonry All Around

Words: Bronzella ClevelandPaul Odom, MCAA Chairman We had great working weather this April in Texas. It is my favorite time of the year!! I always loved laying brick when I can start the day wearing a jacket in the morning and finish the day in a short sleeve shirt. Production seems to be really good at this time also. I hope that you are having great working weather as well. I went to New York City in early April to see Susie who has been babysitting our 4 1/2-month-old granddaughter for our son Alex and our daughter Kelsey. As a mason when I travel I am always looking at masonry buildings. NYC is an amazing place to see the beauty of masonry. There are masonry buildings around every corner that were built not only for the beauty but for sustainability and fire safety for both the  property and the occupants. For example, the Potter Building #1 at 37th Park Row, burned to the ground in 1882 with twelve people killed. The flames had engulfed the structure so quickly that the Fireman’s Herald wrote that the building “made itself notorious the country over for burning up in the shortest time on record,” and its owner was brought before a grand jury. Potter immediately set forth to rebuild. He commissioned architect Norris Garshom Starkweather, whose offices had been in the burnt-out building, to design its replacement. Within two weeks of the fire, Potter announced he would build the largest office building in New York and it would be “absolutely fireproof inside as well as outside.” The Potter Building was completed in 1886 with brick, terra cotta and iron. I am always proud to be a mason but even more so when I see beautiful masonry that is built to last. It is my wish that we can all work together to continue to promote masonry.  It is SAFE, it is sustainable, and it looks good for years. As you travel around the country or world for that matter, look at the old buildings. Masonry is what is still around!! Until next month, Paul Odom
Contractor Tip of the Month - Listen Before Leading: A Hard Lesson on Change
November 2025

I pride myself on being a forward thinker. My aim is always to do what’s best for my team because I’ve learned that the strength of any company rests on the people who build it. So, when we rolled out a new and improved travel policy a few weeks ago, I as

Damian Lang
Contractor Tip of the Month
Read More
Fechino Files: Welding in the Masonry Business
November 2025

Most of the equipment used in the masonry business is strong, durable, and made of metal. Okay, yes, you can argue that many mortar boards, truck seats, and water coolers are typically not made of metal, but you get the point. One thing I learned a long t

Steven Fechino
Fechino Files
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: Potala Palace
November 2025

Perched more than 12,000 feet above sea level on Red Mountain in Lhasa, Tibet, the Potala Palace stands as one of the world’s most remarkable masonry structures. Its enduring resilience not only represents an architectural achievement but also a living ca

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More
Outreach Outlook: Securing the Future Through the Inspire Awards
November 2025

As we move into November, I want to take a moment to highlight one of the most significant opportunities our industry has ever faced: the Truist Foundation Inspire Awards. The Masonry Foundation has been named a finalist, and on Tuesday, November 12th, we

Robert Melgaard
Outreach Outlook
Read More