The Historic District

We are in the midst of removing the parlor chimney dating to circa 1860. The foundation under the parlor is 2 layers of brick, the chimney rests on dirt in the hand dug basement, but the back of the chimney is the foundation. No other additional bricks back there, just the foundation. Is this typical???

Yes, totally. Around here in all raised houses with chimneys, the chimneys pull double duty as piers. Maybe it would be more accurate to say there's a pier under the chimney. Something has to hold that thing up.