This reconstruction project involves rebuilding more than 1,000 linear feet of historic stone wall that was destroyed a few years ago when the roadway was widened. The original stone was salvaged by local preservation-minded people and stored at a county facility while funding was secured for it to be rebuilt. All the historic stone is being used in the new wall . . . along with some new stone for structural improvements (foundations, ties and covers) that were missing from the original wall design. Williamson County is the project sponsor, with 80% of the funding provided by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Owner: Dry Stone Conservancy

This album includes a few photos from each of the Conservancy's 2008 workshops and volunteer work days. Hands-on training is a popular choice for drystone enthusiasts. Four workshops and three volunteer work days have been/will be offered this spring in Kentucky as well as another in Tennessee. Workshops give participants an opportunity to learn how to build drystone walls while raising awareness of historic fences, the craft and correct restoration techniques. Wolunteer work days give previous workshop participants an opportunity to continue under the tutelage of Conservancy-trained instructors while donating their time restoring important historic fences in Central Kentucky.

Owner: Dry Stone Conservancy

For a full description of the Conserancy's partnership with the National Park Service at the Roebling Aqueduct site, read the November 2007 photo album below. Phase 2 involved two weeks of final site work to remove the temporary soil bench at the base of the wall and to rebuild two drainage culverts to match the historic stonework. In early April the Conservancy was presented with a Special Recognition Award from the Upper Delaware Council of New York and Pennsylvania for “masonry restoration craftwork at the NPS Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River Corwin Barn and Roebling Delaware Aqueduct properties”. The award was accompanied by a State of New York State Legislative Resolution. For the full text of the award presentation, go to our forum "Conservancy News" site.

Owner: Dry Stone Conservancy

This project with the City of Fredericksburg involves rehabilitation of two relatively simple retaining walls. The first wall is approximately 20 feet long by 10 feet tall; the second is 15 feet long by 4 feet tall. Although the wall reconstruction is straightforward, this project is greatly complicated by limited site access, overhead utilities, unknown conditions behind the wall, and the need to coordinate with court schedules and another contractor on site. It's a great example of why a site visit is required before submitting a quote!

Owner: Dry Stone Conservancy

This is the second training/restoration task order in the Conservancy's five-year cooperative agreement with the Northeast Regional Office of the National Park Service. The partnership includes training on preservation standards, philosophy and maintenance practices as well as practical drystone masonry skills development. A primary focus will be to reconstruct a 30-foot high historic drystone retaining wall adjacent to the Delaware Aqueduct that was destroyed during the catestrophic 2005 Delaware River floods. The reconstructed wall will be approximately 50 feet long and built with massive stone slabs that require machinery for lifting into place. The Delaware Aqueduct is reputedly the oldest suspension bridge in the USA, and is included on the Historic American Engineering Record. Built in the mid-1840's and designed by the now-famous bridge engineer John A. Roebling, the Aqueduct originally carried the Delaware & Hudson Canal over the unpredictable waters of the Delaware River. In 1898 it was converted into a highway toll bridge, a function it continues to serve today. This important engineering structure is managed by the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, a unit of the National Park Service. More photos will be posted in Spring 2008 when the final site work is completed. (12/12/07)

Owner: Dry Stone Conservancy

A vital aspect of the Conservancy's restoration partnership with the National Park Service is to provide NPS staff with hands-on training in drystone masonry construction. NPS staff from as far away as Hawaii and Yosemite joined local staff from Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York for a week-long training course at the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River. The first day focused on preservation and mainenence philosophy, followed by the fundamental techniques involved in drystone retaining wall construction. A low retaining wall adjacent to the bridge site was the initial site for the introductory skills training. After the first two-days, participants rotated onto the "big wall" site for continued instruction with the reconstruction team.

Owner: Dry Stone Conservancy

DSC-certified drystone masons recently completed another Conservancy-led project in Kentucky to reconstruct the historic retaining walls that originally surrounded this important settlement-period cave/spring site in Perryville, Kentucky. The Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association partnered with the Conservancy to reconstruct the walls, which had been inadvertently demolished earlier in the year. Thankfully, the original stone was still on site and historic photographs were available to guide the reconstruction work. An introductory workshop for local residents was also offered at the cave site, and several volunteers from the community were able to participate in the restoration efforts. More photos of the project will be posted in early 2008! Please visit again. (12/12/07)

Owner: Dry Stone Conservancy

This album includes a few photos from each of the Conservancy's 2007 workshops and volunteer work days. Hands-on training is a popular choice for drystone enthusiasts. Nine workshops and seven volunteer work days were offered in Kentucky this year as well as six others in Ohio, Tennessee, Minnesota, Wisconsin and New York. Workshops give participants an opportunity to learn how to build drystone walls while raising awareness of historic fences, the craft and correct restoration techniques. Wolunteer work days give previous workshop participants an opportunity to continue under the tutelage of Conservancy-trained instructors while donating their time restoring important historic fences in Central Kentucky. Thank you to all the participants, coordinators and instructors; our Kentucky site partners at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Mercer County, John Jacob Niles Homestead in Clark County, University of Kentucky Animal Research Farm in Woodford County, the Perryville Cave/Spring site, and Holy Rosary Church in Washington County; and our national preservation partners at the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River in New York, Voyageurs National Park in Minnessota, Evansville City Park in Wisconsin, Aullwood Garden in Ohio and Rest Haven Cemetery in Franklin and Travellers Rest Plantation & Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Thanks especially to the 250 participants whose efforts are responsible for restoring more than 750 feet of historic fences and retaining walls this year! Take a look and see if you can find yourself!

Owner: Dry Stone Conservancy

A beautiful fall day drew a fabulous turnout for the 4th Annual Walling Competition which was held at Shaker Village in Kentucky again this year. The competition is the only one in North America and showcases the skills of dry stone masons from all across the United States. A record number of masons (35) from eleven states traveled more than 25,000 miles to compete! By the end of the day more than 175 feet of fence had been restored. Thank you competitors, volunteers, and keystone event sponsors: Momentum Data Solutions, Tahoma Stud, Trow and Holden, Brown-Forman, Cee-Jay Tools, Sellersburg Stone, Video Editing Services, Keith Foster and Beaumont Inn.

Owner: Dry Stone Conservancy

Description will be posted soon! Please visit again. (11/10/07)

Owner: Dry Stone Conservancy