Quoins

The vast majority of cobblestone buildings have quoins as their corner supports. These quoins are made of solid blocks of stone laid in an alternating pattern. In some instances, the masons have laid bricks in quoin-like format, thereby eliminating the need for blocks of stone.

The majority of structures have solid gray limestone quoins; however, exceptions are red sandstone, brown sandstone, or blue stone (Lockport sandstone). The shape, position and finish of the stone quoins varies. Shape is defined as height, width and depth measures of the stone block. The term "variable" states that the individual quoins used do not have one or more dimensions the same, whether in the same corner or compared to other corners. Position is defined as each quoin position at the corner of the structure in relation to adjacent quoins and rows of cobblestones. The term tooled refers to a finish on the stone face, if not smooth or rough cut, where the marks made by the masons' tools are visible, typically in straight lines across the stone face. Chamfered refers to the symmetrical rounding of edges.

When bricks are used, they may be defined as type, color, and number laid in length and height, arranged as a group which, in some instances, the masons have laid bricks in a stone quoin-like format.

Roudabush Survey, Corner Structures, page 16

Lim_2_3
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Stone blocks. 		Sod_2_4
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Variable, rough cut gray limestone quoins 		Sod_14_3
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Square cut gray limestone, tooled quoins 		Wal_10_2
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Brick corner structure in quoin pattern. Note quoin-like brick window sides and brick lintels.