Owners of older homes in the Pacific Northwest will be particularly
interested in this fall's series of classes and lectures at the Port
Townsend School of Woodworking, as it continues its Historic
Preservation program. Maintaining old homes presents major challenges:
paint peels, wood rots, floors sag. Heat leaks through old single-pane
windows, uninsulated walls, and gaps in the siding. Understanding
traditional construction methods can help homeowners make intelligent
decisions on how to maintain and insulate without compromising the the
historic fabric of their old buildings.
Continuing its Historic Preservation classes, Port Townsend School of
Woodworking will present "Maintenance of Old Homes in the Pacific NW"
on October 3; "Weatherization of Old Homes in the Pacific NW" on
October 4; and a two-day "Wood Window Restoration Workshop" on October
17-18. Taught by Kevin Palo, a historic preservation consultant and
wood window expert, the "Maintenance" and "Weatherization" classes mix
lecture, site visits and hands-on practice. The Window Workshop will be
hands-on: by restoring windows in a building at Fort Worden, students
will learn how to remove old windows, carry out minor repairs,
re-glaze, re-rope a double-hung sash window, and weatherize windows.
In the first of a new Historic Preservation lecture series, on
September 17 at 6:30 p.m., consulting architect Gee Heckscher offers a
"A Primer on Seismic Stabilization." We live in an active earthquake
zone, so many of our older buildings are at risk from seismic damage.
Gee will explain how earthquakes affect buildings; identify the types
of seismic risks of various types of building construction; and
describe structural solutions to buildings with seismic risks that
address foundations, frame stiffening, and tying building components
together. Gee was responsible for designing the stabilization for the
Jefferson County Courthouse Clocktower; he is on the board of the
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and serves on the City of
Port Townsend's Historic Preservation Committee. The lecture will be at
the School; admission is pay-as-you-can.
Earlier this year at the School, veterans from Clallam and King
Counties learned the fundamental theory
of Historic Preservation and completed the restoration of the eastern
facade of the Motor Vehicle Pool building (Building 365) at Fort
Worden.
These classes, offered by the School for the Washington State Veterans
Conservation Corps, were supported by a generous grant from the Friends
of Fort Worden and with materials and staff assistance from Fort Worden
State Park.
Looking ahead, there are big plans afoot for the Port Townsend
School of Woodworking: we are in early stages of planning for
transition to non-profit status and we will be partnering with the City
of Port Townsend, the Fort Worden Collaborative, the Washington Trust
for Historic Preservation, and the Washington State Parks and
Recreation Commission to create a center for Historic Preservation at
Fort Worden.
The Port Townsend School of Woodworking is located at Fort Worden, Port
Townsend, in Building 315 (the Old Power House -- behind Copper Canyon
Press).
CONTACT:
Tim Lawson
(360) 440-7660
tim@ptwoodschool.com
Port Townsend School of Woodworking
200 Battery Way, Fort Worden
Port Townsend WA 98368
(360) 344-4455
www.ptwoodschool.com
