About Us

“I was too young to drive, maybe fifteen. I’d get on my bike and ride down to a neighbor’s house.” So says Jonathan Steele about his first experience as a Mason’s laborer.

Three years later he built his first stone wall, behind a woodstove in the family’s hunting lodge. It was then that Jon realized that stonework was in his blood.

Straight out of high school, Jon worked a season with Virgil Bavacqua, an elite western New York based mason. After a year of working as a Union Mason in Rochester, NY, Jon and his wife Katy moved with their six month old son James to the other side of New York so that Jon could learn from his Uncle and fifth generation Mason, Ken Steele.

Jon worked with his Uncle and learned about stone in some of the largest and most elaborate houses in the world, on the shores of Lake George. One day Jon was finishing up a job when the homeowner complimented the status he had achieved at such a young age, thinking that he was the company’s owner.

In the early winter of 2004 Jon felt that is was time to return home. He and Katy packed up, this time with James, a daughter Megan, and another on the way, and headed back to Scottsville NY, where they now live as the second generation of Steeles on 98 acres of land that they manage for deer population along with their pigs, chickens, cows, horses, and a dog named Checkers, who helps keep the rodent population under control.

In the late fall of 2005 a decade of hard work took its toll. Several of the vertebral discs in Jon’s neck were compressed and he spent a week immobile in bed. Unsure if he would be able to continue working in the craft in which he had trained, he was at the end of his rope.

“That’s when Joe started to call.” Out of the blue, a friend Jon had met while away from Scottsville called him, and told him of the Masonry Heater Association of North America.

“He told me I had to go, that I had to see these things. I looked at the bank balance and saw what going would cost. Attending the conference would leave us with $400.”

Joe called “every couple of days, or so. It was so out of left field, and so persistent, I knew it had to be God.” Jon decided to go one afternoon, and got one of the last spaces on the list.

“That night, my brother tried to get in, and it was closed up, no more room.”

That providential introduction to the masonry heater world was followed up by a providential apprenticeship.

Some time after the meeting, Jon received a phone call from Timothy Seaton, one of the most experienced heater masons in the US.

“Timothy felt called to offer me this opportunity.” Five days before the beginning of a project in New Buffalo, Michigan.

John was busy, and while he was discussing with his wife whether he could take the opportunity on such short notice or not, the phone rang.

It was the clients that were scheduled in conflict with the New Buffalo project.

Katy turned to Jon. “They want to know if we can put it off a week or so…”

Jon packed his bags and embarked on what would be a year of intense travel and learning.

After returning from that initial outing well impressed with Masonry Heaters, Jon was not yet sure that it was a good idea to cast aside the years he had put in to building a business in traditional stone masonry.

“At Bible Study that week, we all prayed for a straight forward sign that this was the path to follow. I did not make it ten steps into my home before the phone rang.” It was a man who had seen Jon’s name on the MHA website inquiring about heaters.

“Since then, the road has been a blessed one.”

Colorado, Washington State, Oregon, Georgia, and Brooklyn, New York were all stops in Jon’s itinerary that year.

Now home, and dedicated to building a company devoted to masonry heating, Jon looks out on his 98 acres with Katy and their four children, expecting a bright future.

Home Masonry Heaters Baking Ovens Fireplaces Cooktops Design Services About Us Contact Us “I was too young to drive, maybe fifteen. I’d get on my bike and ride down to a neighbor’s house.” So says Jonathan Steele about his first experience as a Mason’s laborer. Three years later he built his first stone wall, behind a woodstove in the family’s hunting lodge. It was then that Jon realized that stonework was in his blood. Straight out of high school, Jon worked a season with Virgil Bavacqua, an elite western New York based mason. After a year of working as a Union Mason in Rochester, NY, Jon and his wife Katy moved with their six month old son James to the other side of New York so that Jon could learn from his Uncle and fifth generation Mason, Ken Steele. Jon worked with his Uncle and learned about stone in some of the largest and most elaborate houses in the world, on the shores of Lake George. One day Jon was finishing up a job when the homeowner complimented the status he had achieved at such a young age, thinking that he was the company’s owner. In the early winter of 2004 Jon felt that is was time to return home. He and Katy packed up, this time with James, a daughter Megan, and another on the way, and headed back to Scottsville NY, where they now live as the second generation of Steeles on 98 acres of land that they manage for deer population along with their pigs, chickens, cows, horses, and a dog named Checkers, who helps keep the rodent population under control. In the late fall of 2005 a decade of hard work took its toll. Several of the vertebral discs in Jon’s neck were compressed and he spent a week immobile in bed. Unsure if he would be able to continue working in the craft in which he had trained, he was at the end of his rope. “That’s when Joe started to call.” Out of the blue, a friend Jon had met while away from Scottsville called him, and told him of the Masonry Heater Association of North America. “He told me I had to go, that I had to see these things. I looked at the bank balance and saw what going would cost. Attending the conference would leave us with $400.” Joe called “every couple of days, or so. It was so out of left field, and so persistent, I knew it had to be God.” Jon decided to go one afternoon, and got one of the last spaces on the list. “That night, my brother tried to get in, and it was closed up, no more room.” That providential introduction to the masonry heater world was followed up by a providential apprenticeship. Some time after the meeting, Jon received a phone call from Timothy Seaton, one of the most experienced heater masons in the US. “Timothy felt called to offer me this opportunity.” Five days before the beginning of a project in New Buffalo, Michigan. John was busy, and while he was discussing with his wife whether he could take the opportunity on such short notice or not, the phone rang. It was the clients that were scheduled in conflict with the New Buffalo project. Katy turned to Jon. “They want to know if we can put it off a week or so…” Jon packed his bags and embarked on what would be a year of intense travel and learning. After returning from that initial outing well impressed with Masonry Heaters, Jon was not yet sure that it was a good idea to cast aside the years he had put in to building a business in traditional stone masonry. “At Bible Study that week, we all prayed for a straight forward sign that this was the path to follow. I did not make it ten steps into my home before the phone rang.” It was a man who had seen Jon’s name on the MHA website inquiring about heaters. “Since then, the road has been a blessed one.” Colorado, Washington State, Oregon, Georgia, and Brooklyn, New York were all stops in Jon’s itinerary that year. Now home, and dedicated to building a company devoted to masonry heating, Jon looks out on his 98 acres with Katy and their four children, expecting a bright future.