Staff Writer
HAINESVILLE — There’s more to brick laying than meets the eye second-generation mason Don Pond.
Pond owns and operates Pond Masonry, which is based in Hainesville, and for 26 years, he’s been perfecting his skills to pass on to his son Cody.
Pioneer Times photo/Jennifer Ruth
MASONS —Father and son team up on a recent masonry job. From left is Don Pond, founder of Pond Masonry and son Cody.
The father and son have been working together since Cody was 9-years-old. His father says he’s got a lot of knowledge under his belt.
“He’s 18 now and a lot of people wonder how an 18 year old can get so much experience, but he’s been doing it a long time,” explained Pond.
Pond says he used to take his son into the backyard and give him masonry lessons. He said even at a young age he picked right up on it and developed a keen interest in the job.
“He finally came into it when he was 14-years-old,” said Pone. “He was definitely shining then.”
Pond’s father was a mason as well and after Pond was discharged from the Marine Corps in 1981, he figured being a mason was a job he could do.
“We do anything from replacing chimney tops and fireplaces to work done on RiteAid and Staples and we’ve even got a job up at the high school,” he explained. “We use masonry cement and we use it to bond together stone. That’s basically what we do.
“We don’t do any concrete … we only work with mortar,” he said.
Last week, Pond was set up at a residence in Houlton making repairs on a chimney. He said after this year’s storm, chimney repairs have literally gone through the roof.
“A lot of chimneys fell over last winter and they fell right off the house,” he remarked. “Generally, if they were coming up the base, the snow would just push them right over. So we’ve picked up some from that.”
Pond said chimney repairs have always been a regular part of his business, but this year he said he’s already booked straight through to September. Pond’s business, like some, have experienced a boost this year and he said it’s just getting better.
“This year, things are growing — we’re working up to LP; we’ve got the high school to do; we’re growing and we’re trying to get into that commercial work too,” he said. “We’ll travel all the way to Bangor and up to the Canadian border for the right job. We certainly can’t travel for a small one, but you have to in the construction trade.”
Business has been so good in fact, that Pond has been able to add onto his staff.
“We’re really fortunate, we’ve hired two high school graduates this year from Hodgdon High,” he said. “Briady Dow and Steve Moran. We hope to take on some more in the future as we grow.”
Pond said he’s eager to show someone the “ropes” and he added it takes a lot of skill and know-how to earn certification as a mason.
“Well you’ve got to learn how to run a trowel,” he explained. “It takes a lot to get the dexterity down. Usually, you have to be tendered for two years and then you go through an apprentice program, which Cody is going through now, before you get the skills to be labeled as a bricklayer.
“But even after you run a three-year apprentice, you’re still five years out before you’re really competent,” he added. “It takes quite a lot. It looks easy for someone looking on, but there’s quite a bit of training that goes on.”
Of course, anyone looking on would know that one of the first things that trainees need to work on is their tolerance of high places. Last week, his trainees were tied up on 30-foot scaffolding. Before that, they were 80-feet up on top of the courthouse.
“You get used to it and you get your sea legs under you,” he explained. “You just pay attention to what you’re doing. We’ve got a couple of young guys here and it’s going to take them about a month or two before they get their legs underneath them and they’re not clenching.
“We use rope for fall protection,” he added.
Of course, Pond credits the community and the county for his success. He said he’s not the only mason available, but he noted, there’s plenty of work to go around for everyone.
“Right now we’re working six days a week,” he explained. “If it’s necessary, we can get out for things such as chimney fires and we do keep liners on hand. We can get right out quick and keep people running, but that’s generally in the wintertime, so they’re not without heat.”
Pond’s regular business hours are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday and there is someone on hand to answer the phone during that time so people can be assured that they will have a “real person” to talk to.
For more information on Pond Masonry call 448-2676.
