Preservation Trades Network/TFG Partnership
Back to Brooklyn, New York
May 4-15, 2002
In the summer of 2001, the Guild erected a timber gate during the Smithsonian's National Folk Life Festival on the Washington Mall. The Preservation Trades Network (PTN) was an official sponsor of the event. Later the gate was moved to the historic Floyd Bennet Field in Brooklyn's Gateway National Recreation Area. In October at the International Preservation Trades Workshops, the Guild and members of PTN worked with students from the Brooklyn High School for Preservation Arts to erect the gate at Floyd Bennet Field. Permanent installation of the gate, scheduled for the spring of 2002, will be at an ecology trailhead on Flatbush Avenue across from the entrance to the park. Members of the PTN masonry committee are working on footers and foundation.
From May 4 to 12, 2002, the Guild again teamed up with the PTN and students from the Brooklyn High School for Preservation Arts to work on the gate project. Plus they completed construction of a cruck frame trail shelter of a Medieval timber frame design. This project was first begun at IPTW 2001 for installation at Floyd Bennett Field at the Ecology Camp. Each summer, the camp provides environmental education and an outdoor camping experience for 17,000 urban youths. The goal of the trail shelter project is to demonstrate how anyone can build habitable structures with their own skills, imagination, and traditional materials.
Professionals from the Guild and PTN worked alongside Brooklyn high school students from May 4 to the 12th on these two projects. There was no cost to attend.
This event was under the direction of Guild President Rudy Christian, timberframer Curtis Milton, and National Park Service and Guild member Lisa Sasser.
Photos from the week's activities, by Rudy Christian
Students and instructors assembled at the newly relocated gate built by the Guild at the 2001 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. It's now the entrance to the EcoCenter Camping area
Photo: Lisa Sasser
John Freidrichs, with sons Ira and Jessie, building foundation for the Gate.
Photo: Geri Kobryn-Blatter, Park Ranger
Students matching joists to sill in timber deck frame.
Photo: Laura Saeger
Floor deck for Trail Shelter assembled on site.
Photo:Lisa Sasser
Students found their own way out of the city to finish the job on Saturday.
From left to right: Curtis Milton, Lisa Sasser, Winston Prendergast, Laura Saeger, Kenny Rivera, Sabrinna Whyle, Richard Moorse, Ken Follett, Rudy Christian. Down in front: Malik Ranger.
Photo: Betsy Hahn, Amherst, NH
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Teaching Brooklyn H. S. students the 3-4-5 triangle.
Photo: Laura Saeger
Lisa Sasser supervising cutting a tenon on a round post.
Photo: Laura Saeger
Dedicated student roughing in tenon.
Photo:Lisa Sasser
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