Following his return to Mount Vernon in 1797, George Washington devoted much of his time to the repair and modernization of his beloved estate. One of his primary concerns was updating the fireplace in the "New Room", which he felt should be done "without delay". In place of the old wood burning fire equipment, Washington installed a coal burning stove grate. Its small basket and angled jambs enabled the coal to burn hotter and more efficiently than wood. It was an ideal addition to the largest room in the house and allowed Washington to offer cutting edge comfort to his many guests.