The SRCA annual meetings and conference coincided with the 15th annual International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) on the campus of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, 750 E. King Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This conference brought together hundreds of the best preservation and traditional trades crafts people, as well as preservation architects, preservation consultants, building trades contractors and others from the US, Canada, Europe and beyond, who were interested in learning more about preservation and traditional trades techniques, tools, materials and practices. For those who work in the preservation and traditional building trades, this was a gathering of the "tribe." For others, it offered a unique opportunity to see some of the finest crafts people at work and learn more about how historic building preservation is accomplished in construction. Special thanks to Rudy Christian and Barry Loveland for organizing this conference.
The theme was "Hands on Heritage: Trades, Knowledge, Community." More than 50 presentations and in-depth hands-on demonstrations showcased the talents of some of the world's best preservation and traditional crafts people. Conference and workshop sessions were eligible for American Institute of Architects continuing education units. The SRCA had a tent for demonstrations. We installed a demonstration slate roof on a small bake oven building.
3. Liam Tower, Slate Affair, Inc.: Nice Bells - All the Curves you Need: Liam will present a slide show on how to install slate on a curved bell/dome slate roof, showing a step by step application of the slate and flashing needed. It will include the layout of the courses and tapered slate patterns. You will see one way to install the copper flashing needed as you work through the convex curve of the bell/dome shape. Also included is how you can scribe a level line around a curved bell or dome shaped roof, and the hand-hammered copper cap on the cupola and finial.
4. John Crookston, UpRight, Inc.: Safety on the roof; your life depends on it! We have all heard the saying, "Plan your work and work your plan" Let's do the same with safety. Some different approaches to access on the rigid roofing systems.
5. Barry Smith, Smith Slate Roofing: Preparing contract proposals using Google Earth to create roof plans.
UNDER THE TENT, OUTSIDE, THURSDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 4-6:
AT THE DEMONSTRATION SITE (BAKE OVEN), THURSDAY, AUGUST 4TH:
1. Chris Short, Short Slate: installing NY red slate as an educational demonstration
2. Liam Tower, Slate Affair, Inc., installing NY red slate as an educational demonstration, including installing a copper apron flashing on a brick chimney.
LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
Lancaster is the oldest inland city in the United States, and served as the capital city of Pennsylvania from 1799 until 1813, until it was replaced by Harrisburg. In 1709, the town was known as "Hickory Town." Later, a prominent citizen named John Wright gave "Hickory Town" the name "Lancaster" after Lancaster, England where he used to live. The City of Lancaster is known as the "Red Rose City" because of its link to Lancaster, England. The city became a borough in 1742, a chartered city in 1818, and surrendered its ancient city charter and became a Third Class City under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvanian May 27, in 1924.
A relatively small city of 7 square miles and 56,000 residents, Lancaster is located within driving distance of Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Delaware beaches and the Jersey shore. Lancaster is a place where historic preservation and a cutting-edge arts scene live and thrive side by side; a city of neighborhoods that are safe and welcoming; a city that values the cultural, ethnic, and diverse lifestyles of residents.
THADDEUS STEVENS COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology offers associate degrees and certificates in technical education programs to academically qualified residents of Pennsylvania. A residential college originally founded to benefit the State's indigent orphans, it serves economically disadvantaged as well as tuition-paying students. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology dedicates itself to the development of Pennsylvania's technical workforce.
The Preservation Trades Technology Program at Thaddeus Stevens College is directed toward those individuals entering or already employed in the building trades who seek the specialized skills in traditional and preservation trades needed to prepare them for this growing segment of the construction industry. Industry surveys of the Lancaster area have indicated not only a demand for a workforce well trained in these preservation skills, but also that historic building owners recognize the value of proper training and experience in having a successful preservation project.
Lancaster is the oldest inland city in the United States, and served as the capital city of Pennsylvania from 1799 until 1813, until it was replaced by Harrisburg. In 1709, the town was known as "Hickory Town." Later, a prominent citizen named John Wright gave "Hickory Town" the name "Lancaster" after Lancaster, England where he used to live. The City of Lancaster is known as the "Red Rose City" because of its link to Lancaster, England. The city became a borough in 1742, a chartered city in 1818, and surrendered its ancient city charter and became a Third Class City under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvanian May 27, in 1924.
The 
