Recent Projects


Johnson Creek Covered Bridge Abutments, Robertson County, KY


Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, PA

.
Roebling Aqueduct Reconstruction, NY

Dry Stone Conservancy
1065 Dove Run Rd.
Suite 6
Lexington, KY 40502

© 2008 Dry Stone Conservancy


The Conservancy has conducted training and restoration projects for National Park Service personnel in 11 states and has provided advice and consultations in 27 other states. We have contributed expertise to projects in architecture, engineering, conservation, preservation, history, geography, job development, and tourism.


The Dry Stone Conservancy is unparalleled in its advocacy for drystone preservation, for conducting drystone masonry workshops in Kentucky’s vernacular styles, for promoting the authentic restoration of America's historic drystone structures and for its training workshops and restoration project experience nationwide. Conservancy preservation partners include: the Kentucky Folk Life Program, the Kentucky Heritage Council, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Kentucky State Parks, LFUCG Parks Department, the Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Louisville Metro Parks, the Heritage Foundation of Franklin Tennessee, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, the Historic Preservation Training Center and the National Park Service as well as many other dedicated individuals and organizations working to preserve America's drystone cultural heritage.

A selected listing of the relevant workshops and training projects undertaken by the Conservancy is provided at the end of this section along with several information sheets on various workshops and projects. We will happily provide additional references if requested.

More information about our Training & Certification Program and Referral List, our staff and Board of Directors, workshops and project photographs are available by contacting the Conservancy office or by visiting our Home page.




2008

Consultation, design collaboration and mason training in partnership with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for rehabilitation of historic dry-laid stone abutments at Johnson Creek Covered Bridge, Robertson County Kentucky. 2009.

Consultation and training for regional high school students and National Park Service personnel in partnership with the National Park Service Northeast Regional Office to rehabilitate several hundred linear feet of 4-5 foot high East Head Race drystone retaining wall at Hopewell Furnace Historic Site near Elverson, Pennsylvania. 2008-2009.

Consultation, stone sourcing and installation of 50 linear feet of new rock fence and five geologic features representing the physiographic regions of Kentucky at the Children’s Garden for the Lexington / University of Kentucky Arboretum. 2008-2009.

Drystone masonry training and job skills development for inmates from the Kentucky Department of Corrections Blackburn Correctional Facility while repairing historic rock fences on Paris Pike in Fayette County, Kentucky. 2008-2009.

Contractor training on stone cutting, dressing and setting skills for restoration of the Bailey Island Cribstone Bridge near Harpswell, Maine. 2008.

Mason training to renovate the historic rock fence and flagstone pavement surrounding the Nancy Hanks Memorial at Mordacai Lincoln State Park, managed by the Kentucky Department of Parks. 2008.

Mason training and reconstruction of 1,000 linear feet of 4-foot high historic dry-laid stone walls along Hillsboro Road in Franklin, Tennessee. 2008.

Consultation, design, training and restoration for the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia to restore 35 linear feet of Jail Alley Retaining Walls ranging from 2 to10 feet high. 2008.

Phase Two of the Roebling / Delaware Aqueduct retaining wall project at the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River in Minisink Ford, New York. 2008.

2007

Consultation, design, training and project management in partnership with the National Park Service Northeast Regional Office including NPS staff and advanced mason training to reconstruct 60 linear feet of 30-foot high drystone retaining wall adjacent to the Roebling / Delaware Aqueduct (2 group of photos) at the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River in Minisink Ford, New York. 2007.

Consultation, design, training and project management in partnership with the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association to reconstruct 85 linear feet of 10-foot tall retaining wall that previously surrounded the Perryville Cave & Spring site in Boyle County Kentucky. 2007.

Stone Arch Bridge Assessment Seminar for the New York Department of Transportation and State Historic Preservation Office, including drystone and stone arch construction techniques and field assessments for three stone arch bridges in Herkimer County, New York. 2007.

Consultation with the Maine Department of Transportation related to MDOT’s construction documents for a major rehabilitation project for Bailey Island Cribstone Bridge near Harpswell, Maine. Bailey Island Bridge, built in the 1920’s, is the only bridge of its kind in the world. 2007.

Mason training and restoration of 300 linear feet of historic dry-laid retaining wall supporting an historic carriage path at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, Ohio. 2007.

Consultation and feasibility report for the authentic restoration of the 19th-century double stone arch Sands Bridge near Methuen, Massachusetts. 2007.

Consultation and feasibility report for the City of Evansville, Wisconsin to rehabilitate of 3,000 linear feet of the 1940’s Allen Creek Retaining Walls. 2007.

Consultation, design, training and project management for the University of Kentucky Transportation Research Center and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for advanced drystone mason training and rehabilitation of Wilmore Stone Arch Culvert, a historic double stone arch culvert on an in-service road in Jessamine County Kentucky. 2006-2007.

2006

Consultation, design, training and project management for the National Park Service. Northeast Regional Office for park staff and mason training to repair 120 linear feet of the historic drystone foundation and adjacent retaining walls at the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River Corwin Barn site in Sullivan County New York. 2006.

Consultation, design, training and project management for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Buffalo Trace Covered Bridge Authority to rehabilitate 175 linear feet of approach ramp retaining walls at Goddard Covered Bridge in Fleming County Kentucky. June, 2006.

Consultation and staff/volunteer training for Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota to restore numerous historic dry-laid stone retaining walls at Ellsworth Rock Garden. July, 2006.

Consultation, design, training and project management for the City of Fredericksburg Virginia for restoration of 240 linear feet of drystone walls along the historic Rocky Lane with walls ranging in height from 6 feet to 16 feet tall. 2006.

Training and project management for the City of Springfield, Kentucky to build a 100 foot long section of drystone retaining wall for its Footprints to the Park project. 2006.

2005

Consultation, design, training and project management for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Fleming County Kentucky for rehabilitation of historic cut stone abutment Goddard Covered Bridge. 2005.

Consultation, design, training and project management for the National Park Service Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park at Widewater Basin below Great Falls Maryland for 4,100 cubic feet of repairs to historic towpath retaining walls. 2005

Training for National Parks Service trail maintenance personnel at the Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona to restore 100 feet of a 5-foot tall retaining wall at the historic railroad depot in Canyon Village. 2005.

Consultation and feasibility study for stabilization and authentic restoration of early 1900’s Franz Aust dry-laid stone retaining walls. Lodi Parks & School District of Lodi. Lodi,Wisconsin. 2005.

Selected 2005 Project Photographs

2004

Consultation, training and project management for the National Park Service Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania Battlefields National Military Park for reconstruction of 400 linear feet of drystone walls along the historic Sunken Road. 2004.

Consultation, design, training and project management for the National Park Service Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Springhill Ranch Complex Chase County, Kansas  for restoration of 1,175 linear feet of historic drystone retaining walls and fences ranging in height from two to 6 feet. 2004-2005.

Training and project management for Millennium Horse Farm, Kentucky for the installation of 1,700 linear feet of new dry stone fence including curved walls and pillars.  2004.

Selected 2004 Project Photographs

2003

Training and project management for Scott County Fiscal Court, Kentucky for the relocation of 1,000 linear feet of historic dry stone fence at Choctaw Academy.  2003.

Consultation, design, training and project management for the National Park Service Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Washington, DC for restoration of 350 linear feet of historic retaining walls ranging in height from eight to 23 feet. 2003.

Consultation, training and project management for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Fayette County, Kentucky for the relocation and recreation of one and 1/4 miles of historic rock fence on Paris Pike at Payson Stud, Elmedorf and Leatherwood Horse Farms.  2002-2003

Selected 2002-2003 Project Photographs

2002

Consultation, design, training and project management for Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Greenup County Kentucky for rehabilitation of Bennett’s Mill Covered Bridge historic cut stone abutments.  2002.

Consultation, training and project management for Harrodsburg Historical Society, Mercer County Kentucky for rehabilitation of historic dry stone masonry foundation at the Historic Mud Meeting House.  2002.

Selected 2002-2003 Project Photographs

2001

Design, training and project management for the City of Danville, Kentucky, for a TEA-21 funded project to relocate 1,750 linear feet of historic rock fence.  2001.

Selected 1996-2001 Project Photographs

2000

Consultation, training and project management for Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Akron, Ohio, for the restoration of 70 linear feet of 12 foot high roadway retaining wall on Portage Path.  2000.

Consultation, training and project management for Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy for design and construction of new dry stone retaining walls for bridal path in Iroquois Park and new dry stone pedestrian bridge/culvert at Baringer Spring in Cherokee Park. 2000, 1999.

Selected 1996-2001 Project Photographs

1999

Design, training and project management for 680 linear feet of new dry stone fence and formal gated entrance, Walnut Hill Church, Kentucky. 1999.

Training for trail maintenance personnel for the National Parks Service,Big Bend National Park, Texas; Colorado National Monument, Colorado; and Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. 1999

Consultation and training for National Park Service maintenance personnel to restore check dams/erosion control structures at Channel Islands National Park, California. 1999.

Consultation, training and project management for the National Parks Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park, Washington, DC, for the restoration of 500 feet of retaining wall along the towpath. 1999.

Consultation, training and project management for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet & Kentucky Heritage Council for restoration of Switzer Covered Bridge drystone abutments. 1999.

Selected 1996-2001 Project Photographs

1998

Consultation, training and project management for the National Park Service for the restoration of 70 linear feet of 35 foot high roadway retaining wall at the Chesapeake &Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry.  1998.

Consultation, training and project management for Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy for restoration of historic Baringer Spring in Cherokee Park. 1998.

Consultation, training and project management for Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy for construction of new dry stone bridge abutments and new fences at two overlooks in Iroquois Park. 1998.

Selected 1996-2001 Project Photographs

1997

Consultation, training and project management for Scott County Soil Conservation District, Kentucky for restoration of historic Springhead Protection retaining wall and watergate. 1996 and 1997.

Selected 1996-2001 Project Photographs

1996

Consultation, training and project management for the Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy for the restoration of 96 feet of 22 foot high roadway retaining wall in Cherokee Park. 1996.

Selected 1996-2001 Project Photographs

1995

Training for ongoing restoration and training programs with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Kentucky State Parks, Kentucky Heritage Council, Kentucky Community & Technical College System, Lexington Urban County Government and the University of Kentucky. 1995 - present.

TOP





“Specifications for Rocky Lane Historic Dry-Laid Stone Retaining Walls”.  City of Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg, VA. 2006.

“Specifications for Restoration of Springhill Ranch Drystone Fences and Retaining Walls”.  Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, National Park Service.  Chase County, Kansas. 2004.

Specifications for C&O Canal Historic Drystone Retaining Walls”.  Cheasapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, National Park Service.  Harpers Ferry, MD and Washington, DC. 1999. 2000. 2003.

Building & Repairing Dry Stone Retaining Walls.  DSC training video funded by the W.L. Lyons Brown Foundation. 2001.

Specifications for KY 52 Historic Rock Fence”.  Kentucky Transportation Cabinet TEA-21 funded fence relocation and mason training project.  2001.

Retaining the Olmsted Legacy. DSC documentary of the restoration of one of Cherokee Park’s roadway retaining walls.  Funded by the W.L. Lyons Brown Foundation. 2001.

Retaining America’s Dry Stone Heritage. DSC documentary of the restoration of Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park canal retaining walls. Funded by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, National Park Service. 2001.

Specifications for Portage Path Drystone Retaining Wall”. Stan Hywett Hall & Gardens. Akron, Ohio. 1999.

“Dry Stone Abutment Specifications for Eight Covered Bridges” for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. 1998-1999.

Walls of Stone: Building Drystone Walls and Rock Fences. Video funded by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, National Park Service. 1996.  

Building and Repairing Kentucky Rock Fences. Instructional handbook, Drystone Conservancy,  Lexington, Kentucky.  1995.

Generic Specifications for Kentucky’s Historic Rock Fences” for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.  1995.

TOP





Public dry stone demonstration for the National Garden Clubs of America, hosted by Lexington Garden Club.   2001.

Permanent rock fence exhibit on the grounds of the Kentucky Folklife Festival, Frankfort.  1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003.

Full scale rock fence built indoors at the Kentucky State Fair exhibition hall, Louisville.  1995. 

Full scale rock fence built indoors at the National Building Museum, Washington.  1996.

TOP