25TH ANNIVERSARY MARATHON WALLING EVENT

The Conservancy celebrated its 25th Anniversary this year with America’s first ever Rock Fence Building Marathon which was held at McConnell Springs in Lexington.  Dozens of volunteers worked in two-hour shifts throughout the day and night to build more than 50 LF of rock fence in just 25 hours!  Thank you to all the fence builders, site partners, event staffers, and many others who contributed their time, auction items, and cash for a resoundingly successful event!  In addition to catching up with old friends and making new friends, almost $5,000 was raised from your efforts! Click Here for more information. Watch for something similar next year!

WORKSHOPS & CLINICS

After taking a hiatus in 2020, the Conservancy came back strong in 2021!  We conducted six 2-day workshops and two Stone Dressing Clinics at historic drystone wall locations in Kentucky, Kansas and New York.  Over 40 folks new to drystone learned the basic skills involved while also restoring more than 100 LF of historic drystone walls.  Thank you.

CERTIFICATION EXAMS

Five people who took workshops this year went on to pass their Level I Qualified Drystone Mason certification exam timed-tests (7 LF of 4’ H fence in 8 hours) and wallheads.  Three Level II Journeyman candidates also passed their timed tests (10 LF of 4’H fence in 8 hours).  And, one Level III Master Craftsman candidate passed his timed test (12 LF of rock fence including a step stile in 8 hours!).  In total, more than 85 LF of historic fence and 5 wallheads were restored.  (Photo by Wes Moody) Congratulations to all!

RESTORATION/TRAINING PROJECTS:

The Conservancy’s provided paid on-the-job training opportunities for masons at various Kentucky stone wall sites this year, including a new creekside retaining wall in Bloomfield and repairs at Glass Mill Stone Arch Bridge in Jessamine County, drystone benches at Legacy Trail in Lexington and three historic fences in Bourbon, Clark, and Woodford Counties.  We are currently working on a new fence installation encircling a horse cemetery in Woodford County, KY.  Thank you to all involved.

DRY STONE MASONRY CONSULTATIONS:

Consultation services were provided early this year for the Georgetown KY Streetscape Project that went out to bid this summer.  Construction will begin in early 2022 and includes extensive repairs to the historic drystone double stone arch viaduct on US 421 adjacent to Royal Springs. As with all Kentucky Transportation Cabinet bid projects that include drystone masonry, the viaduct restoration work was awarded to a DSC-certified mason subcontractor.    

Consultation services are also underway for projects in Bloomington, IN, Owen County, KY and Jeffersonville, KY in advance of major site development projects to occur in 2022.  The goal is to ensure construction activities do not adversely impact these important historic stone resources.

NEW BOARD MEMBER:    

This year the Board proudly welcomed a new member to the Board of Directors. Dane Clark is a DSC-Certified Level II Journeyman mason and brings to the board leadership qualities and the business practices of contract negotiation, industrial technology, budget, finance, fundraising and customer satisfaction.

The Bluegrass Trust’s November DeTour:

The Blue Grass Trust’s November deTour featured Russell talking about the Conservancy’s work to preserve historic fences at Lower Howard’s Creek Nature Preserve in Clark County and a historic double stone arch bridge/culvert on Glass Mill in Jessamine County.  Seth also shared his process building a magnificent set of stairs and walled patio overlooking the Kentucky River. Check the video out here!

Kentucky Colonels Good Works Program:

The Conservancy received grant support from the Kentucky Colonels Good Works Program to pay for a new printing of our training handbook. We also received payroll support from the SBA CARES Act Payroll Protection Program and LFUCG’s Small Business Recovery Program.  

COMING UP IN 2022:

We look forward to next year.  Watch your inbox for our spring and fall 2022 workshop schedules for upcoming fence, retaining wall, special features, and certification prep workshops and stone dressing clinics to be offered in Kentucky, Kansas, and New York, as well as new venues in Indiana and Tennessee.  

We are also working with site owners for dry stone projects in New York, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming.  More information on these potential on-the-job training/restoration projects will be forthcoming as they develop.