Sleeping Bear offers barn restoration workshop
From staff reports
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will again be hosting its successful barn restoration workshop June 19-24 at the Frederick Dechow Barn four miles north of Glen Arbor on M-22. This year marks the 21st year that the National Lakeshore has hosted and developed this series of “hands-on” workshops which started in 1997. The park maintenance staff is providing the skilled labor to put on this workshop.
The workshop will address repairing “stone masonry walls, barn floors, hewn building sills, concrete door thresholds, windows, and doors.” The course will include 1) stone masonry repair, 2) repair of rough sawn floor boards, 3) repair and installation of hewn sills and a concrete door threshold, 4) exterior siding repair, 5) door and window repair, and 6) tool safety while completing the task presented. This workshop is again able to provide a unique experience for all participants.
The course is set up so participants receive “hands on” training of all techniques. The workshop begins on site at 9 a.m. each day. There is no cost to participants. Tools and materials will be provided. Participants should wear boots, gloves, and bring a sack lunch for each day that they attend. They can also sign up for any number of days.
Workers are not required to be skilled in the building trades, though experience will be helpful and appreciated. The purpose of the workshop is to teach the techniques and train owners and those interested how to do restoration work on timber and frame structures, including concrete and stonework. Past workshop attendees have ranged in age from 7 to 75 with each contributing their own unique skills to the project.
Campsites will be provided for volunteers who wish to camp for those days they are signed up for the workshop. If interested, please indicate your desire to camp on the form, by email, or when you call to sign up.
Interested parties should contact the park Historical Architect, Kimberly Mann, at 231-326-4771, to sign up for the workshop. Participants may also sign up by email at kimberly_mann@nps.gov.
