December 03, 2004 1:06 PM CST

Dry-laid Stonework Gaining Popularity in Region

By The Daily Freeman

In an area long renowned for its historic stone architecture, an influx of wealthy landowners from New York City and trends favoring durability and tradition have made stonework as in vogue as ever, say mason contractors in the region.

"There's a lot more stonework being done than there was 20 years ago," said Alan Budd, a contractor in Clinton Corners who has been doing stonework in Dutchess County for more than two decades. "Projects are getting bigger, and customers are more knowledgeable."...

Some of the most popular projects, Budd said, are stone walls. As with other exterior work, customers are showing an increased preference for natural, durable materials, he said.

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About the Author

The Daily Freeman is a seven-day-a-week morning newspaper in Kingston, N.Y., serving all of Ulster County and parts of three other counties in the Mid-Hudson Valley. Read The Daily Freeman online at www.dailyfreeman.com.