The Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) today announced its newest
preservation trades training program in the Historic Trades Initiative, the Historic Masonry Workshop. Protecting Aquidneck Island’s extensive historic fabric requires a knowledgeable preservation workforce, and NRF, through its Historic Trades Initiative, extends the skills of tradespeople to work with historic materials. This four-day workshop offers a unique, interactive opportunity to get hands on with history— including learning techniques for treating historic brick and stone and how they differ from present-day materials, developing the skills to identify materials and causes for repair, and practicing appropriate repairs to historic masonry.
This workshop will be held over two weekends, June 22-23 and June 29-30, from 9am-3pm each day.
Participants spend the first weekend at NRF’s Prescott Farm in Middletown, RI learning how to mix lime mortar, chip and repoint brick, and stonework. During the second weekend, participants will apply the skills they have learned to practical scenarios on NRF’s Preservation Properties; providing invaluable experience in real-world applications of historic masonry skills.
The workshop will be taught by Blair Bates of Building Renovation, LLC with over 30 years of experience in historic masonry work. Blair is a member of IPTN (International Preservation Trades Network) and teaches masonry for the National Park Service. “NRF is honored to have such an experienced mason work with the Newport community. When we envisioned this class, we wanted an instructor who was fully invested in the nuances of historic masonry, and Blair was at the top of our list,” said Kris Turgeon, NRF Historic Trades Initiative Manager. “We are so excited to offer this unique learning experience in historic masonry to those entrusted with preservation of historic properties.”
NRF’s Historic Trades Initiative was launched in 2021 to increase interest and expertise in the preservation trades. This initiative aims to expand access to the historic trades industry and provide entry into the preservation trades with programs like historic masonry, Preservation Trades Specialist Training, carpentry internships, and job shadowing.
For more information on this training workshop and other upcoming programs, email kris@newportrestoration.org.
