Local Preservation Archives - Page 5 of 6

HIDDEN GEM: Ever wonder how those old mills along the streams actually worked?

Last weekend, Danielle and Jonathan spent the day at the Bowmansville Roller Mill’s open house – a Lancaster County hidden gem of preservation that sits just a stone’s throw (okay, a hearty stone’s throw) from the Berk’s County line. Put together by The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County, the open house occurs four times …

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Preservationist vs. revisionist history – is there a time and a place for both?

Architectural & Building Character, Community Preservation, Federal Preservation, Historic Preservation, Historic Restoration, Local Preservation / By Danielle Keperling

Since I put last month’s e-newsletter to bed (obligatory you can sign up here) yesterday morning (hey, that e-newsletter is one wild party animal on the weekends), I’ve started researching this month’s snail-mail newsletter (another obligatory you can sign up for that one here). We’re delving into the history at Independence National Park in Philadelphia since it’s fresh …

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Trekking through Women's History with Heritage Trails

Community Preservation, Federal Preservation, Feminist History, Historic Preservation, Local Preservation, State Preservation, Women in Preservation, Women's History / By Danielle Keperling

One of the more intriguing interpretative strategies we read about during our research into expanding historic preservation to include women’s history was the use of heritage trails. By now, we are all familiar with heritage trails – those walking and driving journeys around to different historic sites that historical commissions, museums, public agency, community organizations, …

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Your House is a Money Pit….

Local Preservation, Maintaining Historic Buildings / By Danielle Keperling

You know that to preserve your home you must take responsibility for it’s care. Some of you are handy and willing to tackle this “homework”. Some of you are not as well versed in swinging a hammer and the such, in that case calling for reinforcements – a friend of a friend of a friend who …

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Internal Gutter Systems

Local Preservation / By Danielle Keperling

What we call internal gutter systems are also known as Yankee Gutters, built-in, or integral gutters. What ever you call them they can become an expense problem without careful monitoring and maintenance. These drainage systems have been used on houses from the 1700’s through the early 1900’s though they are most commonly found on buildings …

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New Lead-Paint Regulations

Federal Preservation, Help for Historic Home Owners, Local Preservation, Materials, Other Stuff, Preservation Education, State Preservation / By Danielle Keperling

On Thursday, April 22nd, any contractor working on a building with lead-based paint will have to be a lead-safe certified firm. The EPA is has written guidelines to help protect homeowners from lead dust and contractors have to complete a 8 hour training course. Helping to protect homeowners is important – the downside is the …

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15 Steps to Weatherize Your Home

Energy efficiency, Indoor Air Quality, Local Preservation, Maintaining Historic Buildings, Materials, Wood Restoration / By Danielle Keperling

The November/December 2009 issue of Preservation Magazine featured an article, Getting Ready for Winter: 15 Steps to Efficiency. These tips are taken from this article. Insulate the attic (this is where the majority of your heat loss will occur – though the replacement window and door companies would have you believe it is on the …

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Affordable Housing

Local Preservation, Other Stuff / By Danielle Keperling

Lancaster, Pa is the oldest inland city in the United States. Lancaster City also boast itself as the largest designated historic district in the U. S. with it’s four square miles of structures that tell the story of this settlement’s life since 1730.We live in the city and enjoy the urban feel of a downtown …

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Building History Day at the Ephrata Cloister

Historic Restoration, Historic Wood Windows, Local Preservation, State Preservation / By Danielle Keperling

On Saturday, June 6, 2009 the Ephrata Cloister hosted their Building History Day. This was a day with traditional crafts being demonstrated, speakers on the topic of historic building and the evolution of domestic architecture, and tours of the unrestored floors of the Sisters’ House. We were invited over the winter to host a seminar …

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Williamsburg

Architectural & Building Character, Colonial Architecture, Historical Architectural Styles, Local Preservation, State Preservation / By Danielle Keperling

Danielle and Jonathan spent three days in Colonial Williamsburg with Jonathan’s parents Donald and Diane. The picture shows Jonathan and his dad in the stocks next to the courthouse – they quickly learned that public punishment was not very comfortable. A lot has changed in Williamsburg since Danielle and Jonathan visited Thanksgiving 2001. They are …

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