Putlog Holes and Apples In The Palmer House, Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

The Palmer House is adjacent to the Capitol in Colonial Williamsburg.  If you look carefully, you will see the "putlog holes" in the brick facade.  In order to support the scaffolding used by the masons making tall buildings, these holes were left in the structure.  Usually, when the building was completed, they were filled with mortar or a filler; these are open.  A tradition began of placing apples in the putlog holes as part of the Christmas decoration.  They alternate between green and red apples, creating a very interesting look.