International PReservation Trades Workshop

The following is a report that was distributed to APTI Board of
Directors. It has also be distributed to e-mail addresses of individuals
that expressed an interest in the activities of the Preservation Trade
Network. There are probably some that I've sent it to that have no
interest at all. If I hear from them I'll stop, until then ...

Planning has started for pulling together a 1998 IPTW. If you have
ideas, energy, funds, complaints, etc. step forward, please.

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A REPORT ON THE 1997 INTERNATIONAL PRESERVATION TRADES WORKSHOP

     The 1995 conference in Washington, DC was a time of introspection
for APTI. The challenge before the APTI community was how to learn from
our past. It was a time of questioning and challenging the way it had
been operating and reviewing areas where the process could be improved.
Part of this process was a session of 'round-table' discussions focused
on various topics of interest and relevance to the future of APTI. An
unscheduled 'round-table' discussion was formed by members from the
preservation trades and contractor disciplines. The discussion at this
table started off with a general view that the preservation trades and
contractors did not have appropriate recognition within the organization
of APTI. Through further dialog it was agreed that the blame for this
lack of representation within the organization was due to the lack of
effort by the preservation trades and contractors themselves. In an
effort to make the APTI organization more responsive to the interests of
the group it was decided that a special sub-set of APTI
should be developed. This group, "Preservation Trades Network (PTN)",
has, through the recognition by the Board of Directors, been set up as a
special task force within APTI.

One of the first ideas of PTN was to influence the format of conference
and training presentations to more appropriately meet the needs of
trades people. This meant that presentations would need to be by
individuals that knew not only the history of the materials and
techniques they presented but also an intimate knowledge of the working
of these materials and techniques. The format needed to be in an
environment that allowed for physical demonstration of ideas and
concepts. An environment where there could be interaction between
presenter and audience. Over time, this process developed into the
realization that a conference designed by the same people as the
intended audience would be the most direct approach to satisfying the
recognized need. The idea of a conference by and for the trades grew
into the 1997 International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW-97).

     **

          The mission statement for the Workshop was as follows:

GOAL: To provide a much needed opportunity for both experienced and
novice members of the preservation trades community to exchange
experiences, skills, and ideas.

ISSUES: Organize the preservation trades community; Identify national
preservation trade leaders and
educators; Establish common links with various existing trade groups;
Develop preservation trade certification standards with vocational
education facilities; Standardize a preservation code of practice for
various trades; Establish skill levels and required competencies for
various preservation trades; Establish a means to recognize outstanding
accomplishment in the preservation trades field; Encourage the
dissemination of more trade-related and material related preservation
trade information.

FOCUS: Organizational and training seminars over a three day period;
Trade demonstrations.

This will allow trades people to share their skills and knowledge of
materials, tools, and techniques with other preservation trades people
in a "hands-on" environment. Sessions will also include discussion
groups that deal with areas of concern within the preservation industry.

TARGET: Trades people.

Offer an appropriate format for skill demonstration and sharing of trade
knowledge. The Workshop will employ appropriate methods such as peer
review to identify and select trades demonstrators and will use methods
to facilitate discussions at Workshop sessions that are more appropriate
to the trades.

WHY: to strengthen the trades position within the preservation field

It is time for the preservation trades community to take the initiative
to strengthen its position within the preservation field. This is a
broadscope event designed for, and by, those people who perform the work
of
preservation with their hands and minds at historic building sites.

     **

Through the combined efforts of the Preservation Trades Network and the
Historic Preservation Training
Center (HPTC) of the National Park Service the IPTW-97 took place on
November 5,6 & 7, 1997. Twenty-one organizations were cosponsors for the
event. They included (in alphabetical order) Drystone Masonry
Conservancy, Eastfield Village, Frederick County Dept. of Public Works,
Frederick Historic Sites Consortium, Guild Institute of Stone and
Restoration Masonry, Historic Medley District, Inc., Institute for
Preservation Training, Intermountain Cultural Resources Center,
International Masonry Institute, Jefferson's Poplar Forest,
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Northeast
Cultural Resources Center, Old-House Journal, Preservation Industry
Network/New York, Preservation Institute for the Building Crafts,
Preservation Resource Group, RESTORE, The GUILD of Fine Craftsmen and
Artisans, This Old House, Timber Framers Guild of North America, and
Traditional Building.

The event was held in Frederick, Maryland, home of the HPTC. The
Workshop was held at locations that allowed for the set-up and
activities appropriate to hands-on demonstrations. The main location was
the Frederick City Fairgrounds where two buildings were rented. The
second location was the HPTC Shop at the Jenkins Cannery. An industrial
type warehouse building now used by the HPTC for their shop location.
The large parking lot of the Jenkins Cannery site was also utilized. The
third location was a commercial store front that was used as a computer
laboratory. This allow individuals attending the Workshop to experience
and learn more of what the internet and e-mail have to offer. The
Computer Lab was made possible by the generous support of Clem Labine
and Traditional Building .

The Workshop was structured around two hour time periods for each
demonstration session. Between the Fairgrounds and the Jenkins Cannery,
six to seven demonstrations were happening during any of the
demonstration periods.

The Workshop started off with an opening session at the Weinberg Center
for the Arts, an historic landmark owned by the City of Frederick. The
opening session (GATHERING OF THE TRADES) included greetings from Bryan
Blundell representing the Preservation Trades Network; Tom McGrath,
Superintendent, HPTC; Mayor Jim Grimes, City of Frederick; and Terry
Carlstrom, NPS--National Capital Regional Director. The keynote speaker
was Steve Thomas of the "This Old House" television show. Steve Thomas's
presentation was an overview of how he became host of "This Old House"
and highlights of some of the projects under taken by the TV show. The
audience response to the renovator / remodeling process that was used on
some of the historic structures examples shown, was mixed. Some people
seemed to enjoy the story being told and others were very uneasy with
the apparent lack of concern for the historic integrity of the
structures. The presentation was a good example of how vocabulary is an
important tool of any profession. The same word can have very different
basic meanings depending on who is using the
word. This is a problem for the preservation trades and contracting. The
mis-use of words, from the preservation point of view, by the renovation
and remodeling construction sector is very common. This mixing of
meanings causes the public and even other people within the preservation
community to view the preservation trades and contractors as being of
the same talent and view points as renovation and remodeling workers.
This different of interpretation of important words helped give the
audience a heightened awareness of a group identity that is distinct
within the construction industry. Judy Hayward of the Preservation
Institute gave a presentation titled "Preservation Trades, Education and
Partnerships", and Bryan Blundell talked about "The Workshop Challenge".
The special issue of the CRM, Volume 20 No. 12 - Preservation Trades and
Crafts, was central to both presentations. This issue of the CRM was
specifically planned to be available for the IPTW. The collection of
articles were for the most part written by individuals that were
demonstrators at the Workshop. This issue has been one of the most
in-demand issues of the CRM.

The focus of this Workshop was on the materials and trades that
construct the basic structure of historic buildings.  There were a total
of 36 individuals demonstrating hands-on techniques. The following is an
alphabetical listing of demonstrators: Jake Barrow: "Log End Replacement
Techniques"; Stuart Bolton and Pret Woodburn: "Pitsawing, Hewing and
Riving of Timber Members"; Rory Brennan: Lime Plasters; Robert J.
Cagnetta: "Constructing a Small Timber Frame Building" ; Raymond J.
Cannetti: "Brick and Stone Preservation Techniques"; Donald Carpentier
and William McMillen: "Period Moldings" ; Rudy Christian: "Identifying
Layout Systems in Historic Timber Frames" ; Mame Cohalan: Masonry
Restoration Systems; Michael Davidson: "Micro-Particle Cleaning Methods
for Masonry"; Dominic DeRubis: "Historic Brick Masonry Techniques";
Michael Edison: Masonry Restoration Systems; David Flaherty: Ornamental
Plaster; Ken Follett: "Safety in Rigging and Scaffolding"; John
Friedrichs: "Mortar Analysis"; David Gibney: "Restoration of Exterior
Architectural Elements"; Michael Goldberg: "Chainsaw Restoration
Techniques and Safety"; William H. Gould, Jr.: "Epoxy Techniques"; Doug
Hicks: "Lead Paint Abatement" ; Kenneth S. Hornback: "Maintenance,
Repair and Restoration of Dry Stone Masonry"; Bill Hose: "Wood Shingle
Roofing Repairs and Techniques"; Andrew Ladygo: Lime Plasters; John
Leeke: "Consulting by Computer and the Internet"; Robert Lloyd-Rees &
James A. Ball: "Wall Ties and Masonry Anchors"; Lou Marnella:
"Non-Destructive Investigative Techniques for Masonry & Concrete"; Keith
Matney: Masonry Restoration Systems; David Osborne: "Reproduction of
Traditional Double-Hung Window Sash & Frames"; John Richardson:
"Matching Historic Concrete in Repairs and Replacements"; Roddy Rohrer:
"Slate Roof Repairs and Techniques"; John P. Speweik: "Lime Milling";
John Stahl: "Epoxy Techniques: Repair of Exterior Wooden Elements";
Larry Stearns: "Flashing Repairs and Techniques"; Richard N. Tufnell.:
"Dry Laid Stone Walls"; Robert Watt: "Snecked Rubble Walling"; Norman
Weiss: "The Norman Weiss Challenge" (Masonry Restoration Systems); Tim
Wohlhuter: "Reproduction Hardware & Blacksmithing" ; and Tom Yeager:
"Cleaning Products and Techniques -- Ethics and Options" .

At the end of the Workshop, everyone came back together at the Weinberg
Center for the closing session. A panel discussion was facilitated by
Ken Follet of Apple Restoration reviewing what the Workshop was like and
how this sort of effort might move forward in the future. Tom McGrath
provided closing remarks with a list of action items that had been
topics of discussions during the Workshop. The main action item was a
possible "Code of Practice" for the preservation trades. This idea of
adopting a "Code of Practice" was agreed upon by those attending the
Workshop by a unanimous voice vote. The "Code of Practice" was labeled
the "Frederick Charter". The goal is to put a proposed version of the
Charter into circulation during the first part of 1998 so that a final
version can be agreed upon at the 1998 International Preservation Trades
Workshop.

In looking back at the Workshop, it was clearly a success as an event.
The Workshop had been planned for a maximum attendance of 325 including
presenter and the final count was 371. The week prior to the Workshop,
new inquiries for event registration were declined. Registrations
already in the pipeline prior to the cut off date were accepted. By not
accepting new registrants within the last week the total attendance
stayed within the perceived manageable limit. Individuals from the four
corners of the United States (35 different states were represented) ,
Canada and the Virgin Islands attended. This was no small investment for
those attending and the general response was, "Why hasn't this happened
before?".

The reason it has not happened before is that there has not been an
organization that has represented the preservation trades like the
Preservation Trades Network (PTN) before. The PTN is focused on the
needs of the individuals involved in the preservation trades and not as
a side issue. The International Preservation Trades Workshop offers
individuals the potential to advance their preservation skills and their
understanding of many important preservation issues.

The Workshop was quite different from traditional preservation
conferences and training that typically feature individuals lecturing to
audiences in a classroom/meeting setting. The Workshop targets trades
people and offers an appropriate format for skill demonstration and
sharing of trade knowledge.

As of this writing a final financial accounting has not been completed.
Much of the costs for the labor related to setting up the Workshop were
within the control of the HPTC and that accounting should be available
soon. The bottom line is that PTN has paid all related invoices and
still has a small amount of funds available. There needs to be a review
of PTN and HPTC costs to see if other payments need to be made. The HPTC
collected two grants for NPS attendance and also collected payments from
NPS parks for their staff members that attended. PTN received all other
registration payments. There are still a few outstanding government
purchase orders waiting for payments to come into PTN.

Thoughts on the next International Preservation Trades Workshop.

The 1998 International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) will be the
second event of its type.

The Workshop will take place at a county fairgrounds, as before. These
facilities provide an appropriate environment that allow for trade
demonstrations of preservation techniques, tools and materials. Moving
the Workshop to the Montgomery County Fair Grounds would provide
attendees with access to the Washington, DC Metro subway system and open
up cooperative activities with DC area facilities. The other interesting
connection will be to tie some of the technology sessions to the U.S.
Dept. of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, that
is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland a short distance from the Fair
Grounds.

For the 1997 International Preservation Trades Workshop there were 20
co-sponsoring organizations representing many of the leaders in the
preservation trades and training community. The Project Team expects an
even greater show of support for the 1998 IPTW.

With the success of the 1997 IPTW there has been interest expressed by
individuals within English Heritage and Historic Scotland in sending
demonstrators and attendees to the next IPTW. The Workshop is a
tremendous opportunity to offer a training event that will bring
together individuals from many sectors of the international preservation
trades community.

The objective of the Workshop is to make a substantial contribution to
the organizing of the preservation trades for the purpose of better
utilizing the experience and talents available to improve the general
standards of work and of training.

Possible products of the Workshop along with better informed trades
people will hopefully be a special issue of the APTI Communique as well
as another special issue of the NPS-CRM publication. The APTI Communique
will highlight the topics and issues addressed in the Workshop, and will
be a post-event publication. The NPS-CRM will hopefully be a pre-event
publication.

James Marston Fitch states that the current conditions "rob the
craftsman of any role or voice in the design process itself. Robbed of
such participation, the craftsman was also rendered illiterate; denied
any functional access to the expertise and literature which
characterized any craft - from gold smithing to cabinet work and stair
building and ultimately to architecture itself." Serious individuals
involved in preservation, who use their backs and hands, as well as
their minds, are at a disadvantage when it comes to organized meeting
and training opportunities. There is a lack of opportunities to gather
and share experiences with other serious practitioners of the trades.
Rarely does a trades person get the opportunity to hold a tool and
material to demonstrate techniques and compare experiences with fellow
practitioners learned on historic materials. Trades people communicate
through the technique of tools and the experience of the materials which
are not easy to get across in a slide show or an over-head projector
lecture. Trades need to be taught the way the trades are learned,
through hands-on experience. This is the focus of the International
Preservation Trades Workshop.