Preservation Rendezvous 2009! Frankfort, Kentucky - June 28th - July 4th
During the week of June 27th thru July 4th the Preservation Trades Network (PTN) partnered with the Timber Framers Guild (TFG), the Dry Stone Conservancy and the Slate Roof Contractors Association to hold their first Preservation Rendezvous in Frankfort Kentucky. The event was most graciously hosted by the Kentucky Heritage Council, The Frankfort Tourist Commission and the City of Frankfort parks department who showed the participants what a real Kentucky welcome means.
The week started with two workshops. One was the beginning of a historic restoration project which will be completed next fall when PTN holds their International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) in Frankfort. Students of that workshop learned how to properly document and deconstruct an early 19th century log structure which was original used for curing meat. During the process of studying the remaining historic fabric the students were able to define all of the historic characteristics of the building which will allow the restoration to take the building back to its c1820 appearance authentically.
The second workshop involved using traditional timber frame construction methods to layout and fabricate a picnic pavilion for the River View Park on the Kentucky River in downtown Frankfort. The building was hand raised on the opening day of the Rendezvous and roofed with a “fish scale” pattern slate roof. Even Frankfort’s mayor Gippy Graham grabbed a pike pole and help push up the first bent.
The rendezvous that followed featured traditional trades people demonstrating to attendees and the general public the skills that they use in their particular trade which included dry stone masonry, log construction, hand hewing timbers, raising and rigging, slate and tile roofing, blacksmithing, window restoration, wooden shingle riving, tool handle making and tool sharpening. The citizens of Frankfort who stopped by were welcomed and had a chance to meet tradespeople who are keeping these traditional trades alive and employing them in preserving America’s historic architecture. The young people of Frankfort were even invited to raise the mini-barn brought by Paul Knoebel of Friends of Ohio Barns.
The workshops were educational and the weekend long Rendezvous was festive for sure, but the most valuable and enjoyable part was the camaraderie and opportunity to make new friends and enjoy time with old ones that partnering between the various trades organizations created. Evenings were spent at community meals cooked in the camp kitchen and sitting around the campfire telling stories and playing music. Friendly competition offered by a variety of outdoor games brought back memories of summer camps and family outings and created a very real feeling of community that’s hard to find at gatherings held in big hotel conference centers. Preservation Rendezvous 2009 promises to be the beginning of a new kind of partnership programming that is destined to bring about bigger and better community based events in the future.
Partners
The Timber Framers Guild
The Timber Framers Guild is a non-profit educational membership association dedicated to the craft of timber framing. The Guild serves as a center of timber frame information and design for the professional and the general public. The Timber Framers Guild offers learning and fellowship through workshops, publications and conferences. There are also opportunities for adventure, education and camaraderie through community service building projects in many lands.
Kentucky Heritage Council An agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, the Kentucky Heritage Council / State Historic Preservation Office is responsible for the identification, protection and preservation of historic buildings, sites and cultural resources throughout the Commonwealth, in partnership with other state and federal agencies, local communities and interested citizens. This mission is integral to making communities more livable and has a far-ranging impact on issues as diverse as economic development, jobs creation, affordable housing, tourism, community revitalization, environmental conservation and quality of life.
Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist & Convention Commission
The Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist and Convention Commission's Visitors Center, located five blocks from the Kentucky statehouse, offers maps and information about local sites.
Frankfort Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites
Frankfort’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites maintains several landmarks. Leslie Morris Park on Fort Hill preserves the remains of two Civil War earthwork forts amid a 125-acre forest. The Capital City Museum displays material related to the history of the community. Kentucky River View Park interprets that river’s colorful past, and Cove Spring Park is located at the site of one of the first public municipal reservoirs west of the Appalachians. The department also conducts history related tours and special events.
Kentucky Preservation Rendezvous 2009 Major Sponsors
Hardscuffle, Inc. | American Life and Accident Insurance Company of Kentucky 471 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202
Supporter of Preservation
Nana Lampton, Chairman & CEO
Slate Roofing Contractors Association The SRCA, a non-profit trade association, was established to promote the slate roofing trades, including: organizing slate roofing tradespersons; promoting the training and education of slate roofing contractors in traditional slate roofing practices; and pursuing the interests of slate roofing contractors in developing appropriate standards, practices, methodologies, educational materials and networks.
Buckingham Slate Company The Buckingham Slate Company of Arvonia, Virginia produces roofing slate and other slate products quarried from natural stone of exceptional enduring qualities and has proved its permanent nature by continuous use on roofs for over 150 years.
Alltech's Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Light and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale are Lexington's only locally-brewed beers. Located in the heart of downtown, Alltech’s Lexington Brewing Company has been creating award-winning beers since 2000 when its flagship beer, Kentucky Ale, was released. Kentucky Light debuted in 2003, and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale completed Kentucky’s Triple Crown of Beers in 2006. Past awards include silver and bronze medals at the Great American Beer Festival and “Best of the Bluegrass” for 5 consecutive years. Kentucky Ale is proud to be the Official Beer of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, excitement pours into Kentucky in 2010 with Kentucky Ale.
Palmer Engineering Since 1969, Palmer Engineering has offered professional engineering services to a wide variety of governmental, commercial, industrial, and institutional clients throughout the southeastern and midwestern United States. Palmer Engineering’s Environmental Division has the capability to provide specialized services such as National Register preparation, Section 106 Consultation, HABS/HAER documentation and other Cultural Resource Management Services.
Preservation Kentucky Preservation Kentucky is a statewide membership organization dedicated to preserving Kentucky’s historic places through advocacy and education. Founded in 1999, Preservation Kentucky works to advocate for sound public policy related to preservation, and to educate the public on the many economic and social benefits of restoring older buildings.
Preservation Kentucky was the lead partner in administering the award-winning Rural Heritage Development Initiative as a pilot program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation from 2006 - 2009, which continues to raise awareness and provide tools for preservation in rural places.
Dry Stone Conservancy
The Dry Stone Conservancy was incorporated in 1996 as a 501(c)3 organization to preserve existing dry-laid stone structures, and to revive and promote the ancient craft of dry stone masonry. The Conservancy has conducted training and restoration projects for National Park Service personnel in 20 states and has provided advice and consultations in 35 other states. DSC has contributed expertise to projects in architecture, engineering, conservation, preservation, history, geography, job development, and tourism.
The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation The Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit advocate for historic preservation that strives to protect, revitalize and promote the special historic places in our community in order to enhance the quality of life for future generations.
The Blue Grass Trust was founded in 1955 by a spirited group of Lexington citizens who were determined to save the John Wesley Hunt residence from demolition. This group raised funds to purchase and restore the property, now known as the Hunt-Morgan House, to its original 1814 appearance. Today, the house stands as a testimonial to the beginning of the Blue Grass Trust and the birth of the preservation movement in Central Kentucky.
Ray Black & Son, Inc. Ray Black & Son, Inc., a family-owned construction company, providing construction services within the Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois region. In addition, Ray Black & Son has become a strong proponent for the preservation of historic buildings. It has received recognition, on both national and local levels, for projects that show an unusually high attention to detail and historic accuracy.
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