Why You Should Buy Black Chimneys in Russia
Though buying черные дымоходы in Russia may sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, they're actually quite common there due to the European energy crisis and an increasing interest in biomass heating equipment.
Over time, chimneys have been seen as a symbol of liberation. When people saw a white chimney with some black at the top, they knew it to be an indication for those on the Underground Railroad.
Historian Rachel Hoyle told me this belief is simply a myth. There's no proof to back it up, she told me while visiting the Shirley-Eustis House in Boston - home to one of these chimneys - for myself.
Another possibility is that these chimneys were painted to prevent moisture damage and black trimming was an aesthetic choice. If this is true, they would be much more common in coastal towns.
However, they're not a particularly common sight. In America, for instance, only about 100 chimneys with these features exist - despite their growing popularity with tourists.
Unfortunately, these chimneys have a rich history which deserves to be better understood.
For instance, there's the legend of the "black smoker," composed of pyrite-chalcopyrite and sphalerite-quartz-barite. This vent chimney was used in Silurian Ymana-Kasy and Devonian Alexandrinskoye VHMS deposits in southern Urals, believed to be a remnant of when people first settled there.
Interesting enough, fossil vent chimneys were once a popular way for people to escape the cold. Even those living nearby - often poor and illiterate - used them as places to sleep under the stars so they could save money on rent by storing heat there instead of in their own homes.
Other stories surrounding these chimneys mention them being often topped off with gold, and how they were used to hide smoke stains from fires. But those aren't the only myths associated with them, and none appear to have any bearing on their historical significance.
More accurately, these chimneys served many purposes; from protecting the chimney from rain to keeping smoke stains away from home interiors. They were often painted black, giving them the nickname of "loyalist chimneys" in some regions.
But L'Merchie Frazier, an independent historian, believes the connection between chimneys and the Underground Railroad is more than just a myth. That's why if you're considering purchasing one of these chimneys, do your research first.
Some Russians have welcomed these stories with enthusiasm, while others have grown wary. They believe the state has been distorting their history and forcing them to accept what it wants them to believe.