The project to repoint the Speaker’s House façade is as much about creating jobs as it is about saving an important historic building. Although this masonry house may not be one of the structures whose mere mention evokes the founding of the United States, such as Mount Vernon or Monticello, it is one of many lesser-known buildings associated with great events of that era – and will once again be involved in initiating a great plan. The Speaker’s House in Trappe, Pennsylvania was the home of Frederick Muhlenberg, a member of the Continental Congress, who became president of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention and, as a four-time member of the U.S. House, served as the first and third Speaker of the House. The home of this remarkable American was purchased in 2004 by the non-profit group Save the Speaker’s House, which is working to restore the house to the period of Muhlenberg’s occupancy. The group plans to involve the public whenever possible in the restoration process; this workshop is just one example.

The Speaker’s House is the focus of a pilot project designed to teach serious minded young adults of limited means skills that will lead to careers in masonry restoration. Developed by Andy deGruchy, in cooperation with the University of Pennsylvania, Save the Speaker’s House, and HCN, the program will help young adults develop marketable job skills in a region of the U.S. with a heavy demand for masonry specialists. This May workshop will develop and test a process that will bring preservation specialists and experienced masons together to combine their talents and learn from one another while providing low-cost instruction to young trainees and completing the preservation of valuable historic properties. The goal is three-part:

• To bring career-minded young adults into the masonry trade;
• To provide university students with the opportunity to work closely with professional masons and interns and use this knowledge to create a strategy for successful collaboration at the work site; and
• To highlight the value of professional expertise taught by leading educational institutions in giving masons a valuable tool needed for successful completion of building preservation projects, and to demonstrate the importance of relying on this information as work is undertaken.

As with all HCN projects, the project will see completion of much-needed preservation work, in this case on the building’s façade. This project is unique for HCN as the general public will not be able to register. We hope that those interested in the project and its goals will consider supporting it through donations that will help cover the cost of trainee and student expenses.

If you are between the ages of 19 and 30, do not have a college degree, and are interested in a career in masonry conservation work, you are eligible to participate as one of four trainees at the site. Those with limited resources for career training will receive preference. To apply, write several paragraphs about why you would like to take the course and your goals after finishing the course. Email this information, along with your contact information, to workshops@heritageconservation.net. The fee to attend is $300 for two weeks, and scholarships are available to cover this cost. If you are unable to pay the fee, please explain this in your email. Each trainee will receive a limited wage or stipend from deGruchy Masonry, Inc. that will go directly to cover all remaining workshop expenses. The wage will be based on a 40-hour work week. The deadline for applying for one of the four trainee positions is April 1, 2009. You will be notified by April 25, 2009 as to whether or nor you have been selected.

The workshop will involve repointing the ruled ribbon joints of the original 18th century random ashlar stonework of the façade, which is a local brownstone. Andy deGruchy of deGruchy Masonry, Inc. will lead workshop participants in the work and provide the training. Emphasis will be on learning about lime mortars and masonry techniques while gaining hands-on experience.

The workshop will be two weeks in length, and trainees are expected to attend for both weeks. University students may attend for one or two weeks. The fee schedule is given above, and this fee (along with participants’ limited wages) will cover lodging, breakfast and lunch, instruction and insurance. Transportation to the workshop is not included and is the responsibility of the participant. Instruction will take place 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday, with lunch provided at the work site. Evenings and weekends are free for exploring the area.

Workshop participants will be housed with a host family or in a hotel and may check in on Sunday of the week they are attending. Local residents not requiring lodging may meet the group at the Speaker House on Monday morning at 8:00am.The Speaker’s House is located in Trappe, Pennsylvania just northwest of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Contact HCN if you need directions to the site.

The average daytime high in May is between 65 -70 F (20 C), with nighttime temperatures in the low 50’s F (12 C). Bring gloves, hard-soled shoes with closed toes, long-sleeved shirts and clothing that is suitable for the weather that will also be protective while working. Please be conscious that safety is an important issue at any work site.

If you need additional information, please contact us at workshops@heritageconservation.net or call +1 303-444-0128.

If you find this project intriguing and would like to support HCN’s initiative at the Speaker’s House or if you have an interest in other HCN projects, you may support the work with a tax deductible gift. Donations will be used for a variety of needs – to provide participant scholarships, to purchase materials needed for conservation work, or to provide teaching materials, just to name a few.

Cost:

• U Penn Students – $400 for one week; $800 for two weeks
  *Plus stipend that will go directly to cover workshop expenses. Limit 2 students
• Trainees – $300 for two weeks
  *Plus stipend that will go directly to cover workshop expenses. Limit 4 trainees * Plus transportation to the site

NOTE: TRAINEE REGISTRATION IS OPEN ONLY TO YOUNG ADULTS, AGE 19-30, MEETING THE CRITERIA FOR MASONRY TRAINEE EXPLAINED ABOVE.