In observance of Preservation Month, the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark in Peterboro will be providing two workshops on Saturday, May 11th, 2019 from 1 to 2:30 pm, and 2:30 to 4 pm, at the Land Office (circa 1804) on the Gerrit Smith Estate.
From 1 to 2:30 pm, Kurt Riegel will present Window Maintenance. Riegel will demonstrate how to care for wooden windows and storms in various stages of deterioration. Riegel will feature an historic window sash from the Gerrit Smith Land Office in its current condition. The demonstration will show how maintained wooden windows with storms can surpass modern window application in energy efficiency, while maintaining the original character of an older home. Workshop materials will be provided. Donations are welcomed.
From 2:30 to 4 pm, Nell Ziegler will present Exterior Maintenance. Ziegler will demonstrate how to care for stone, brick, and wood-clad exteriors with a focus on wood exteriors for repair, replacement, and preparation for paint/stain with an overview of products and tools. Ziegler will share practical advice in taking care of the exterior of a building. Workshop materials will be provided. Donations are welcomed.
Kurt Riegel is the owner of Riegel Restoration, a company that specializes in the restoration and conservation of wooden windows and historic gravestones. Riegel earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University at Albany, and his Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation from the University at Buffalo. His capstone project for his graduate work reflected upon the restoration of historic window sash and the importance of public workshops in helping to foster an appreciation for windows in many communities. Riegel grew up in the town of Bainbridge NY and currently is living in the town of Unadilla NY in an 18th Century turnpike tavern that he is preserving and documenting. Riegel has worked on various windows and gravestones across New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Riegel also conducts various educational workshops on various historic preservation matters and does consulting work for interested building owners, municipalities, and agencies.
Nell Ziegler, the President of the Smithfield Community Association which manages the Gerrit Smith Estate, has an academic background in architecture and historic preservation, and American history, with a professional background in real estate (re)development, community (re)development, and energy efficiency technologies. From childhood Ziegler has been drawn to the built environment and the narrative that construction use, and past occupancy share. She is a building lover, a visionary of space, and a structure “fixer.”
For more information, call (315) 280-8828 or email info@gerritsmith.org.
Photo of Kurt Riegel provided.
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