The International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) is the only annual event in North America which brings the foremost practitioners of the traditional trades together in a single venue dedicated to sharing the skills and knowledge of all of the traditional trades through interactive "hands on" demonstrations and educational sessions. Since 1997, masons, timber framers, carpenters, painters, plasterers, roofers, metal workers and practitioners of other traditional trades have come together with tools in hand to share their knowledge and demonstrate their skills at the annual "gathering of the trades". The IPTW is an interdisciplinary event designed to attract participants of many backgrounds, ages and skill levels including tradespeople, contractors, architects, engineers, conservators, educators, preservationists, students and interested members of the public.

IPTW 2008 was the first in New England, and was held in partnership with the Vermont Granite Museum and Stone Arts School, and the Preservation Education Institute and Historic Windsor. More than forty demonstrators shared their skills in the immense historic timber framed granite shed of the former Jones Brothers Granite Company. <read more>

One of the highlights of IPTW 2008 was the presentation of the Askins Achievement Award to David Gibney of Smithsburg, Maryland on July 19th during the International Preservation Trades Workshop in Barre, Vermont. J. Michael Logan, Supervisor of Heritage Conservation with the Howard County Recreation and Parks Department, introduced David citing his outstanding craftsmanship, dedication to teaching and sharing his skills, and his distinguished record of public service for Habitat for Humanity, PTN, and the people of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. David served as an instructor in the 2008 Traditional Building/Historic Preservation Field School in New Orleans sponsored by the World Monuments Fund, Preservation Trades Network, and University of Florida, where his skills and enthusiasm earned him the nickname "Super Dave" among the Field School students. He was also instrumental in the work on the Greater Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church and repair projects in Holy Cross completed during IPTW 2006.

The Askins Achievement Award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions and accomplishments in the promotion, education, and application of preservation trade skills. The Askins Achievement Award recognizes contributions over and above the noteworthy. The award criteria includes contributions to the preservation trades for: the continuance of traditional building skills, advocacy of training in preservation trades, practicing a building trade at master level of skill and knowledge, and extraordinary effort given to advancing the awareness of traditional building trade skills and knowledge. <read more>

In addition to Neil Rippingale’s drystone masonry demonstrations during IPTW 2008 July 18-20th, the Dry Stone Conservancy is also offering a pre-IPTW Drystone Walling Workshop on Wednesday and Thursday, July 16-17, on the Vermont Granite Museum grounds.  This introductory two-day workshop will focus on the fundamental principles involved in dry-laid stone masonry, as drystone craftsmen provide expert guidance for participants building a “double” free-standing fence typical of Vermont’s colonial-period . . . but, with a modern twist!  Native stone, a high-grade schist, will be used as well as granite off-cuts from the local monument-processing sheds, and the fence will include a wallhead and stone arch!  This is your best opportunity to learn directly from the drystone world’s leading master craftsmen and trainers! Registration is limited to 12 participants, with a 1:6 instructor/participant ratio, so act quickly to guarantee your spot!

For more information and to register separately for the Drystone Walling Workshop, contact the Dry Stone Conservancy at 859-266-4807 or go to www.drystone.org or download their Summer 2008 Workshop in Vermont registration form <here>.  Register for IPTW 2008 and receive a discount on the Conservancy's workshop fee.

In Memoriam - Misia Leonard (6/17/35 – 5/16/08) The PTN Community lost a founding member and dear friend on Friday, May 16, 2008 when Misia Leonard passed away at her home in Andes, NY following a six month battle with leukemia.  Misia was born in Warsaw, Poland and forced into exile at an early age with her mother following the Nazi occupation.   She worked for more than twenty years in public service in New York City as a preservation architect. She initiated a “Preservation in Action” course at City College of New York, School of Architecture, with emphasis on work in the field.  She served on the board of PTN and also developed  the PTN AIA/CES program.  Misia was committed to working towards a true and equal partnership between traditional trades and design specialties, and expanding educational opportunities in preservation and the traditional trades.  She was also deeply involved in creating educational partnerships and opportunities for exchange of skills and knowledge with preservation groups in Poland.  She was an inspiration to all who knew her and will be deeply missed.

2008 Traditional Building/Historic Preservation Field School: "Traditional Trades and GREEN Preservation - Sustaining Culture, Place and Heritage" June 9 - August 1, 2008, Holy Cross Neighborhood, Lower 9th Ward, New Orleans, Louisiana

For summer 2008, the Preservation Trades Network and University of Florida in partnership with the World Monuments Fund, American College of the Building Arts and Holy Cross Neighbrohood Association will offer an interdisciplinary, project-based learning experience as part of the recovery of the historic Holy Cross neighborhood of the Lower 9th Ward, in New Orleans. The eight-week field school is designed to bring trades students and apprentices, and graduate students in historic preservation, architecture and engineering together to study and practice historic preservation and traditional trades as an integral part of green design and sustainable construction. The field school is built around a pilot project to preserve and repair historic homes in an area severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina. <read more>

IPTW 2007: "Coming Home" October 11-13, 2007 Frederick, Maryland The National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center shop facility at the historic Jenkins Cannery was the main venue for the 10th Anniversary IPTW and a more diverse group of demonstrations, presentations and workshop sessions than any previous IPTW. Veterans of past IPTWs and many new, first-time presenters offered interactive “hands on” demonstrations of timber framing, carpentry, plastering, brick and stone masonry, painting and decorative finishes, roofing and metal work, and many other trades and allied disciplines. Other sessions covered education and much more of interest to the preservation community. A special PTN Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to J. Bryan Blundell, founding member and former PTN Managing Director by Clem Labine, founder of the Old House Journal and Traditional Building. The annual Live Auction was one of the most successful in PTN history, and the joint PTN/APT-DC reception at Cafe 611 will be long remembered for great live music and a special performance of the "Limeworks Blues" by Andy DeGruchy and the Limeworks Dancers. <read more>