Masonry students build sign at Midland Fire Department

Words: Catherine AdkinsonStudents in Masonry 3 class at Central Cabarrus High School built a sign at Midland Fire Department Station 2. The class also built a sign at the main Midland Fire Department last month.

Todd Hartsell, who teaches the class, said students learn basic skills in the masonry lab at the school and apply what they learn through community service projects.

The class has also built the foundation for a Habitat for Humanity House, a backstop for the softball field at Hickory Ridge High School, a brick mailbox for J.N. Fries Magnet Middle School and a bell tower for a local church. Hartsell said three of his students will be working for masonry contractors this summer.

“By doing stuff like this, they can see if they like it,” Hartsell said.
Designing Masonry Openings Without Compromising Aesthetics
July 2026

One of masonry's greatest strengths is its ability to create visually striking architecture. From arches and deep reveals to decorative brick detailing, masonry provides texture, depth, and character that continue to inspire architects today. As buildin

Restoring the Breath of the Building: The Life-Saving Science Behind Historic Masonry Repairs
July 2026

When I first set out to become a historic preservation and restoration mason, I imagined that most of my trade would involve repairing the effects of old age. Instead, 99 percent of my work is attempting to stabilize and reverse damage caused by recent an

Laying the Foundation for the Future: Workforce Development at the Arizona Masonry Council
July 2026

For generations, masonry has been built on a simple but powerful principle: knowledge passed from one set of hands to the next. In Arizona, the Arizona Masonry Council (AMC) is working to ensure that tradition continues by investing in one of the industr

Preserving Masonry Aesthetics with Concealed Lintel Systems
July 2026

Masonry has long been valued for its ability to create buildings with character, permanence, and visual appeal. Features such as arches, deep reveals, corbelling, and decorative brickwork continue to be popular design elements in modern architecture. Howe