Having the original evaporator hearth that my father purchased in 1949 which made syrup for countless years, we decided to rebuild the hearth. With the old hearth as a template, we engaged Sunrise Metal Company in Indiana to make the front and back airtight doors and were fortunate to have the rest fabricated by B & M Welding who assembled the hearth and added a blower for air. Once insulated, rebricked and mortared, it was ready for the evaporator and syrup pan to begin the season.