TOOLS & TRADES SAMPLER WORKSHOPS OFFER SPECIAL LEARNING ADVENTURE

Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, Inc., The, May/Jun 2004

The EAIA-Eastfield Summer workshops will be held July 12-16 at Eastfield Village, East Nassau, New York, Participants take one of two day-long workshops for a total of five during the course of the week, Included are various aspects of wood and metal-working and other traditional trades, A number of new workshops have been added this year,

In this unique program, master tradesmen who are also experienced teachers conduct a series of one-day workshops in many traditional trades. The schedule of workshops includes tinsmithing (Bill McMillen), slate roofing (Don Carpentier), sashmaking (Bill McMillen), transfer printing (Don Carpentier), letterpress printing (John Kristensen), surveying (Bill McMillen), leatherworking (Peter Oakley), charcoal burning (Norm Pederson), textiles (Rabbit Goody), and farm carpentry (Norm Pederson). See the March/April Shavings for the daily schedule. While you obviously cannot master a trade in a day, these workshops emphasize a hands-on approach in which you use the tools and materials to produce something during the course of the workshop, most often an item to take home.

One of the best parts of this experience is the opportunity to work in a true historic site in which one of the greatest private antique and tool collections is assembled. EAIA member Don Carpentier established Eastfield Village in East Nassau, New York, in 1971. It includes a multitude of late eighteenth and early nineteenth- century furnished buildings moved from various sites in upstate New York. They include a towering Greek Revival church, a thirteen room eighteenth-century tavern and many smaller buildings devoted to the individual trades. The Eastfield Village annual series of Early American Trades & Historic Preservation Workshops is now in its twentieth-eighth year.

In addition to the opportunity to receive hands-on experience with a highly skilled teacher, the workshop provides the occasion for a pleasant sojourn with amiable, like-minded people in the charming setting of Eastfield Village.

Registration for the program is only $550 which includes the daily workshops, lunch, and two dinners. Spaces in the workshops are limited to eight participants each except for printing which is limited to four amd will be filled in the order in which completed applications are received. A 50% deposit per person must accompany applications. The deposit is not refundable after June 28. Final payment must be made by June 28. Anyone interested in registering for one or more workshops by the day may make their wishes known-a decision will be made after June 28 based on available space. For an application or questions, phone Elton Hall at (508) 993-9578 or send an e-mail to .