Session BSL I:
BSL II:
BSL III:
BSL IV:
BSL V:
BSL VI:
BSL VII: |
January 2-7, 2006
January 8-14, 2006
January 15- 21, 2006
January 22 -28, 2006 FULL
March 5-11, 2006 FULL
March 12-18, 2006 FULL
March 19-25, 2006 FULL
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Help us hold the bulldozers back! Join Heritage
Conservation Network in a series of hands-on workshops designed
to preserve damaged vernacular houses in Bay St. Louis, one of
the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. If we can demonstrate
the great interest in saving historic structures, rather than
demolishing them, we can make an important impact on recovery
efforts.
 Beach Boulevard in Bay St.
Louis is located, as the name says, right along the beach a few
feet from the Gulf of Mexico. The inlet to the east brings water
into the bay, which sits northeast of the town. When the 35 foot
tidal surge from the hurricane struck, a wall of water came at
the town from both the gulf and the bay behind, submerging all
but a few houses on highest ground. Blocks of houses were destroyed,
but a number of historic structures managed to withstand the force
of the water. Damage ranges from moderate to severe, and only
the cooperative efforts of many volunteers will bring about the
preservation of these homes. Army Corps of Engineers bulldozers
await permission from residents to clear away homes, and residents
who cannot see an alternative are signing the forms. HCN workshops,
supported by volunteers, can provide this alternative.
Heritage Conservation Network in cooperation with local residents,
the Preservation Trades Network and other organiazations will
be holding a series of hands-on workshops at selected houses to
teach home owners and volunteers skills needed to repair and preserve
these structures while preservation work is underway. The goal
is to rescue as many of the remaining historic structures as possible
in order to retain the historic fabric and visual characteristics
that, along with its residents, form a sense of community. The
first few weeks of work will largely involve condition assessment,
documentation, cost estimation and scope of work. This will be
followed by hands-on preservation and repair work.
Houses have been identified for workshops and are described on
the list of Work Sites. If you
have a preference for a particular work site, indicate it on your
registration form. As structures are completed, additional houses
will be added to the list. The number of sites that can be addressed
will depend upon the response from volunteers and the amount of
materials donated.
If you have a group that would like
to participate, please contact
us. We will continue to schedule additional workshops to
fit volunteers’ schedules. We will need a variety of building
materials for the repair and preservation work. If you have
a business and would like to donate materials, or if you know
of a business that is interested in making a donation, please
contact us to determine what materials are needed. With a large
cooperative effort, a positive effect will be seen in this town
and, it is hoped, spread to others.
Workshops are one week in length and participants may register
for as many weeks as they are available. The cost is US$250
per week; this fee covers the cost of participants' lodging,
breakfast and lunch, and insurance. The cost for participants
not requiring lodging, breakfast or transportation to the site
is $90 per week. There is no cost to area residents attending
to learn skills needed to preserve their own home. Lunch is
provided at the site. Scholarships are available.
Transportation to the workshop is not included and is the responsibility
of the participant. Volunteers will be housed on the outskirts
of Bay St. Louis in emergency housing facilities that have both
restroom and kitchen facilities. Transportation will be provided
from the housing facility to the work site if needed. There
are currently no hotel facilities available near Bay St. Louis.
Please bring attire suitable for the weather that will also
be protective while working. Sturdy shoes, work gloves, water
bottles and insect repellent, preferably with DEET, are required.
Please make certain that you have a current tetanus
inoculation, i.e. within the last five years. Please
be conscious that safety is an important issue at any work site.
Additional details will be provided upon registration.
If you have additional questions or have information for us, please
contact us at workshops@heritageconservation.net
or call +1 303-444-0128.
If you would like
to help with the repair and preservation of hurricane-affected
areas but are unable to attend the workshop, you can still participate
by supporting our conservation efforts with a tax deductible donation
to HCN. Donations will be used in a variety of ways - to sponsor
a participant, to provide materials needed for conservation work,
or to provide teaching materials for participants, just to name
a few.
We have partnered with Groundspring.org to make it easy and
safe for you to donate online:
If you would prefer to mail in a gift, please use our donation form. |
