The Smith Family Fire Place Hearths
(Photos taken by Bruce Satterfield)


Lucy Mack Smith records in her biography of Joseph Smith that sometime after Joseph had brought the plates from Cumoruh and hid them in a wooden box,  it was decided that the plates should be hid under the bricks of the fireplace hearth. 

In her own words, she wrote: "In view of this, it was determined that a portion of the hearth should be taken up and that the Record and breast-plate should be buried under the same, and then the hearth be relaid, to prevent suspicion.  This was done as speedily as possible, but the hearth was scarcely relaid when a large company of men, well armed, came rushing up to the house. Joseph threw open the doors, and taking a hint from the stratagem of his grandfather Mack, halloed as if he had a legion at hand, in the meanwhile giving the word of command with great emphasis; while all the male portion of the family, from the father down to little Carlos, ran out of the house with such fury upon the mob that it struck them with terror and dismay and they fled before the little Spartan band into the woods, where they dispersed themselves to their several homes" (History of Joseph Smith, p.112).

There were two hearths in the Smith house: one in the living room and one in the kitchen.  The following is a pictures of both hearths (the hearths are not original but reproductions located in the exact spot of the orginals).


The Living Room Hearth




The Hearth in the Kitchen