Educational Programming

"Knowledge and timber shouldn't be much used 'till they are seasoned"
	Oliver Wendell Holmes

PTI Newswire

News From Preservation Trades, Inc.

In this issue: Children Adopt Governors State University Barn, Bartlett Farmhouse and New Exhibit as Part of their Curriculums.

Campus Daycare Learns Lesson in Preservation

Adjacent to the old farmhouse that houses the Governors State University preschool program in University Park sits a dual-style historic barn. During its recent renovation by Preservation Trades, Inc. the school's staff took advantage of a unique and valuable opportunity to incorporate the project into the children's daily education On warm days, the children could be found being escorted around the perimeter of the Hantack Barn construction site with pencil and notepad in hand, drawing their interpretation of the ongoing event. When temperatures didn't allow for their "fieldwork" out of doors, the preschool mates took turns pressing their noses against the cold winter glass just to get a glimpse of what was going on with' their barn.' Indoors, common activities of untiring nature were listening to barn lore, handling artifacts such as "tree nails" given to them by PTI employees and coloring pictures of farm life from the

collection of PTI founder and president Bob Przewlocki. "It is so satisfying to build a relationship with this younger generation and help make them aware of our past and its buildings that are still a viable part of our everyday existence," remarked the journeyed preservationist. "These are the future stewards of our architectural treasures. It is never too early for a child to develop an appreciation of and excitement for historic preservation." It was almost a perfect mid-February day when, as promised, the children would be allowed to tour and "inspect " the finished product. The combination Gothic/Gable barn stood proud after its two-and-a half-month makeover. It may have been a century when it looked as good. The huge, new cross-bucked barn doors swung, open, inviting staff and student alike inside to view the massive timber frame of the older half of lane building. There, master carpenter Steve Gray lined the hardhatted group up to play a game that demonstrated the art

of mortise and tenon joinery- that which was employed to build these agricultural icons in the earlier days of settlement The troup was each given a piece of a batten, led up to the loft connecting the two-era barns and were told stories of the barn builders & dwellers. Gushed director Peg Cundari, "These fortunate children will remember this day for the rest of their lives." ELEMENTARY CLASS ADOPTS REMNANT OF BARTLETT'S PAST
In the tradition that education is an important component of PTI's philosophy of historic preservation, the Saint Charles based company hosted a video architectural tour for nearby Bartlett Elementary School. When Bartlett trustees voted to save the historic Eineke Farmhouse, an 1870 era Greek Revival building in the path of school expansion, PTI was awarded the contract to dismantle and catalogue the structure, Pam Rohleder, curator of Bartlett Historical Society, produced the tour so that students would not only learn about architectural

terminology, but participate in the process of saving a link to their town's past Several hundred students have watched the production and while the project was ongoing, developed an affinity for the building that will be re-erected in the coming months. EXHIBIT EXTENDED

Barn Building.. from Settlement to Retrofit, designed and guest-curated by PTI’s Przewlocki, is being held over through 2001 at Hoosier Grove Museum, Streamwood, IL.

For more information call :630/213/9706.

Preservation Trades, Inc. PO Box 1102 Wayne, IL. 60184 630/443/0411 SPRING 2000


Supporting exhibit for log building restoration	Barn building exhibit

Please e-mail us with any thoughts or questions. Your input is appreciated.

Preservation Trades, Inc. P.O. Box 1102, Wayne IL.
Phone/Fax 630-443-0411 or E-mail us to discuss your requirements
or use
the Enquiry Form for your convenience.

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