While working on a kitchen remodeling project this week our workers came across some very interesting insulation. I’ve been doing construction work for 37 years and cannot remember seeing this type on any past projects.
The insulation is made out of newspapers. The papers are laid flat in staggered fashion. Then there is a heavy
waxed paper material laid over each side of the papers and the waxed paper and newspapers are sewed together. The end result is a package of newspaper about 1-1/2” thick that fits between the studs in the exterior walls. The dates on the papers are 1938 so this is roughly when the work was done. The newspapers are mainly Minneapolis Tribune papers. This is some early recycling use for papers. Interesting stuff we find in walls!