The "Gem" of the kitchen has been installed!

A day much awaited...arrived unexpectedly today.

I haven't talked much of the beautiful soapstone sink we have the honor of having in our new kitchen, but I shall make up for it now, as this entire post is about this gem.  For those of you not "into" old things, and seeing life restored to these beauties...you may want to skip this post, however most of you taking time to read this blog, likely have a bit of a passion for seeing the old come alive once again.

A bit of "our" history first, the very first day I spent with Scott, "our first date", I saw this beautiful soapstone sink, overturned with grass growing around it in the lawn at # 6 Eldridge, Grandma's house/Scoop Deck.  It appeared to be left behind, put there haphazardly, I was immediately drawn to it, I think I mentioned how beautiful it was...
When we found 64 High St. and began creating our new kitchen, we talked about wanting to use the soapstone sink in the lawn...but it was not ours to take & use.  It was Doug's mother's...around this time, Grandma fell ill and passed on shortly after.  We let some time go by & finally drew enough courage to ask Doug if he thought his sisters and he would consider giving us/selling us this sink to use.....they gave us their blessing, and we were delighted!   Scott has lived on the Scoop Deck property for the last 5 years, & I spent last winter,our first summer together & now my 2nd winter here as well, I grew to appreciate the property, the home, the barn & Grandma for all she seemed to be!  We could not be more proud to have something so special & filled with so much history.

Okay- sink history...Doug tells us this sink spent its first 50 years at #38 Burncoat Street, Worcester, MA. at his grandparents' house.  It was then moved sometime in the late 50's-60's to Wells, Maine to his mother & father's house at #6 Eldridge Rd, where it was used as a laundry sink in the "shed". then to quote Doug, " Sink went out of house/shed (might have spent a year or two in the barn before going outside outside) in 1985/86 when they changed the old shed/laundry area into well insulated TV room and workshop/extra fridge/dryer room doing away with running water and a drain that just went out into the yard thru a pipe (which was against code and a primary reason the laundry was relocated to the kitchen)" So, the sink I guess sat outside for the last 25 years....it certainly says something about its original quality, not sure ANYTHING we make these days could have lived this life and be reborn into a new kitchen sink! **the SOAP DISH is even still existing & with the sink!
The sink to fit our application had to be cut a bit...which the pics will show.  First off this sink is heavy, not sure how much but I would guess a few hundred pounds...  Originally we thought we were going to have to cut the whole backsplash off...fortunately Matt rethought the plan & we didn't- we are ALL thrilled this worked out as we were able to maintain its original integrity.




Sun 1/30 Scott & I wrestled this into the front entry at 64 High from the front porch where it had been sitting for the last month or so since Randy, Scott & I used a fire brigade of hot water buckets to unfreeze it from the lawn at #6....yes Dad- you TOLD us to do it sooner! :)





Its bottom....





Matt & Wayne used a piece of wood to "slide" the sink from the front entry to the kitchen in the back of the house...that is how heavy this beast is....these 2 muscle men can't even pick this thing up & carry it!!!




The following pics are of Matt & his "assistant" Wayne cutting the right side panel of the sink to fit into countertop application using a diamond blade....(I told Wayne he should work in the OR)!  Thank goodness he was vaccuuming--- the dust was incredible! 



I LOVE Matt's face in this pic!



It got tipped so bottom was exposed, we had to seal the outside seams with a marine type caulking after removing any loose lime cement originally used.



As you can see in this pic, the sink is set out from wall about 3"to be flush for front apron.  I am personally thrilled we did not cut the back off, and that I get to have an extra deep windowsill in the kitchen for plants- something I have ALWAYS wanted!!!!