Saving Grandpa’s stone building at Noble Orchards

By Laurie Noble

The original stone building at Noble Orchards was constructed by Grandpa Perry near the end of World War II. That garage was located near the original farmhouse. The wood doors rolled into the building and there was a hinged locking man door.

About 15 years ago the original wood shake roof was replaced with heavy plywood sheeting and finished with tin roofing. The wood burned out during the Camp Fire and the tin collapsed into the building. The cantilevered walls built of granite fieldstone, (gathered from the orchards) were faced on the interior walls with poured concrete. All the stone/concrete wall structures remained standing after the fire. The collapsed tin roof was thoroughly wedged inside the building. It was a challenge to remove it, but the terrific crew from D Line, who carried out the debris removal after the fire were determined to save the building walls. They strategically pulled out huge pieces of tin one at a time as they were still screwed together.

Our orchards were not heavily damaged by the fire. Agricultural fields are pruned, mowed, and irrigated. Damage to fruit trees mostly occurred to those trees near burned buildings, but Grandpa Perry Noble’s Stone Building still stands.