The process of rediscovering how the fireplace was faced started with the Restoration Team first determining what President Madison had used on the surrounds of other ca. 1797 fireplaces.  After a quick survey it was found that the only fireplace with an intact ca. 1797 Madison-era surround was located in the Large Bedroom.  The surround was found to be made from a very light grey sandstone from England called “Whitehaven”.  Interestingly, this material was also used for the stones that paved the Large Bedroom’s fireplace hearth.