I love looking at the variety of stonewalls while driving through Bedford, Katonah, Somers, Pound Ridge, South and North Salem. Some of the stonewalls are historic (especially those around cemeteries) and date back to the 1600s when settlers cleared the land for farming. As the land was cleared the stones were placed around the perimeter of the property to create fences. Since small rocks or stones made plowing difficult, they were moved and placed around cultivated areas while the larger rocks were used to contain livestock in pastures. Rocks and stones were also used as foundations for barns and houses. The size and shapes of the stones are varied, as well as the construction methods used to build stonewalls.

When the water levels are low in the surrounding reservoirs you can still see the stonewalls and where they they were before the land was used for water shed.

In an effort to preserve these stonewalls, many local towns require building permits and have ordinances regulating stone walls, everything from repair, new additions, and setbacks. Here’s a little slide show with some do’s and don’ts to building stonewalls.

While there are many methods used to build stone walls, my favorite walls are always the original rather than the uniform perfectly shaped and placed stone.

Posted By: Sonja Lovas