Do you have an older home or want to learn a skilled trade? Do you want to make your 100-year-old windows work like new again? The Landmark Society of Western New York is partnering with the Cobblestone Museum to offer several seminars taught by Steve Jordan, noted window specialist and author of “The Window Sash Bible.” Participants will learn how to evaluate windows for repair, how to strip and paint wood windows, how to cut and install glass, and more. The seminars are being offered as part of The Landmark Society’s initiative to support skilled trades.
“To rehabilitate a historic building correctly, you need a professional trained in the appropriate skills, such as carpentry, masonry, stained/decorative glass, painting, roof repair, metalwork, and window restoration,” said Mitch Rowe, Landmark Society Preservation Services coordinator. “While there are veteran practitioners of the traditional trades in our region, many of them are approaching retirement. We are encouraging a new generation of crafts-people to cultivate the knowledge to care for our historic resources.”
A four-day intensive seminar will take place June 12 through 15 and a one-day introductory seminar will be offered on June 16 at the Cobblestone Museum in the Hamlet of Childs. For costs, times and registration, visit www.landmarksociety.org/windows. The project is funded in part by the Historic Preservation Education Fund and Rochester Area Community Foundation, and sponsored by Bero Architecture.
“The Cobblestone Museum is pleased to partner with Landmark Society of WNY to host the Historic Wood Window Seminar,” said Doug Farley, Cobblestone Museum director. “It’s a great honor to have been selected by Steve Jordan to have our 1849 Cobblestone Schoolhouse as ground-zero for this educational, hands-on workshop. Whatever your skill level, I believe taking part in one of the seminars will cover all the bases you need, either for your own personal use or for taking your preservation business to the next level.”
Homeowners as well as contractors and craftspeople interested in expanding their services are encouraged to attend. Rehabilitation of historic buildings has increased exponentially during the past several decades, providing ample employment opportunities for craftspeople who are trained in these specific skills.
