In a message dated 98-01-06 00:29:29 EST, Jenks Parker writes:

> >  The problem is that if no craftsman can be found, we
>  >  will have to organize a regional trade and craft guild which would hire
>  >  master craftsman willing to instruct and certify apprentices and
> journeymen
>  >  to meet our needs.  Not to beat around the bush, the present level of
>  >  available skilled labor in my area stinks and there are no shortages of
>  >  self proclaimed master carpenters, cabinet makers, and the like. Yet
>  >  compared to the thought of organizing and funding an academic program of
>  >  study and application, these guys suffice in a pinch, but not without me
>  >  going without sleep.

Organizing a crafts guild or setting up an academic program would undoubted be
costly. I travel around the country quite a bit and have never seen a a local
preservation market that could, or is willing, to support an effective program
that offers immediate results. There are some current attempts that look
promising though. Back in the 1980s I tried to organize other people here in
northern New England into doing something like this. I finally go tired of it
and set out to do something on my own.

I have had some success with the following program. I seek out  contractors
and tradespeople who are "responsive" and get them onto projects. It doesn't
make too much difference what they know as long as they can respond to the
project's needs and can learn. On each project we work as a team to develop
the specific treatments needed through formal "testing and development." I
also guide them in learning the "methodology" of how those treatments are
developed. They not only learn what to do, but how to figure out what to do.
Everything is thoroughly documented so it can be used on future projects. Each
owner pays for the development done on his project, which is always justified
economically, with the understanding that the information developed becomes
readily available public knowledge for free use by all. I can usually assure
this by publishing the results in national journals, like Old-House Journal,
or in my own Practical Restoration Report series. This program assures
immediately useful results on each project and an accumulation of publically
available knowledge and skills amoung the trades and contractors over the long
term. After 15 years of using this program there is now an ever widening cadre
of trades and craftspeople who are good on preservation projects. I even find
there are similar developments in other locales around the country because of
the national publications. The beauty of this program is that it, has sprung
out of my own action, yet readily draws on pools of economic and talent
resources that are far deeper that anything I, or any institution, could
provide on its own. The fact that it provides immediate results for each
project is what makes it happen.

>  > these guys suffice in a pinch, but not without me
>  >  going without sleep.

I suspect that you are losing sleep over business practice issues. Along with
the program described above I have found  the trades and craftspeople often
ask me for business advice as well. Over the years I have given several
workshops on business practice for tradespeople and small contractors. This
has culminated in the two-day workshop, The Business Side of Preservation,
which is offered each year by The Preservation Institute (for The Building
Crafts) in Vermont. For more information see my website at:

www.housenet.com/HistoricHomeWorks/index.htm

I would be pleased to bring the workshop to the Chattanooga area if you think
it would help out.

By the way, a few years back I trained staff maintenance workers at Southern
College, near Chattanooga, in the special preservation methods needed to
preserve some 46' tall exterior wood columns. They were able to apply their
new knowledge to other buildings at the college as well. Unfortunately, they
are not available for outside work.

John Leeke, Preservation Consultant

26 Higgins St., Portland, Maine 04103, USA
207 773-2306 (phone and fax)
Practical Restoration Reports, Publisher
Historic HomeWorks: http://www.housenet.com/HistoricHomeWorks/index.htm
Old-House Journal, Contributing Editor
AOL: HouseNet, Historic HomeWorks, Pundit, [log in to unmask]