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Early Building Techniques Workshop:

A case study at Venoge

 

September 20, 2008

     

     Often restored historic buildings are viewed by the public  in a completed ‘picture perfect’ state.  It is not readily obvious how they came to be that way and just how their style was influenced by the technology of the time.  Our workshop went back to the bare bones of the Venoge cottage, explaining how a timber frame structure is built, and how the early architectural trades in the area played a part. Our experts explained how each important part of the house came to be; the timbers, bricks, design, and plaster, giving the participants a new way to view structures.
Orbin Ash and the model of a timber frame corner ready for bousillage

 

Photos from presentations during the workshop

 

Terry Wullenweber, Terry is a third generation Master Plasterer, having learned the trade from his father.   He specializes in all forms of decorative plastering. 

Terry Wullenweber explaining early plaster techniques

Decorative molds

Terry showing his collection of plaster forms and molds with some exceptional decorative pieces.

 

 

Orbin Ash, State of Indiana Historic Site Construction Manager and restoration expert.

He has consulted for private museums and has mastered the art of hand hewing and notching logs and is also a stone mason.

Orbin Ash explaining early French methods of house building

Orbin demonstrates the methods used to make bousillage, an instulation used in some French architecturestarting with a pancake of mud.

Next, straw is laid on top of the flattened mud.

Rolling the mud keeps the straw inside, then it is flattened.

Draping the mud & straw pancake over a stick wedged between two wall studs, then repeating the process until the space is filled completes the process

 

 

 

Dr. Darin Rubino -  Darrin's main interest is dendrochronology, the study of tree-rings. He uses patterns of tree rings to understand the influence of historic human impacts and natural processes on forest structure, function, and composition. Currently, he mainly uses tree rings to date the construction of historic buildings in southern Indiana and adjacent Kentucky.

Dr. Darrin Rubino gives an introduction to dendrocronology

A record was made of the exact location of each sample.

Before the workshop, samples were collected by coring or taking slices of some beams

Samples had to be taken from tight spaces, including the crawl space

A core being taken from the sill that was suspected of being added later. Dating the wood proved the supositition to be true.

 

 

 

 

Patrick CunninghamTinner, with wide experience in experience working in living history museums across the country.  His work involved interpretation, research, training, construction, exhibit design and craft skill.

Pat discussed finding remaining clues in  a building’s structure that can be used to determine the structure's original configuration.

Only one original sash remained in the structure

Details of the sash are discussed

Measurements are taken in oder to rebuild the window frames and sashes

New sashes in the shop

 

 

 

Jerry Yarnetsky, Potter, also the Reference Librarian at the

 Madison and Jefferson County Public Library.

Jerry Yarnetsky brought his wooden brick molds to demonstrate the methods used in early brick manufacture.

Jerry watches while a participant tries his hand at brick making. The site on the property where the Venoge bricks were made has not been found yet.

Triming a brick in the mold

 

This program was made possible by an

       Historic Preservation Education Grant from:                                          

Supported by a partnership of the

National Endowment for the Humanities and the

Indiana Humanities Council

Strengthening the ties between us.

 

 

      Home      History    Architecture      Location     About Venoge      Friends of Venoge     200th Anniversary     

     Workshop 2008     Workshop Photos     Efroymson Grant    Links