Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) will again be hosting its successful barn restoration workshop June 17-21 at the Miller barn, four miles north of Glen Arbor, Michigan on M-22; turn onto Port Oneida Road and follow the signs. This year marks the 23rd year that the National Lakeshore has hosted and developed this series of “hands-on" workshops which started in 1997. The park maintenance staff is providing the skilled labor to put on this workshop.
The workshop will address repairing “hewn sills, a concrete door threshold, wood floor, and structural loft." The course will include 1) preparing hewn sills, including the detail notching to assemble, 2) forming and concrete pour door sill, 3) repairing structural decay at a small loft area, and 4) tool safety while completing the task presented. This workshop is again able to provide a unique experience for all participants.
The course is set up so participants receive “hands on" training of all techniques. The workshop begins on site at 9:00 a.m. each day. There is no cost to participants. Tools and materials will be provided. Participants should wear boots, gloves, and bring a sack lunch for each day that they attend. They can also sign up for any number of days.
Workers are not required to be skilled in the building trades, though experience will be helpful and appreciated. The purpose of the workshop is to teach the techniques and train owners and those interested how to do restoration work on timber and frame structures, including concrete and stonework. Past workshop attendees have ranged in age from 7 to 75 with each contributing their own unique skills to the project.
Camping will be allowed on site at the Miller barn during the barn workshop for all registered participants interested in doing so. Amenities will be provided on site, including access to showers at park campgrounds.
Interested parties should contact the park Historical Architect, Kimberly Mann, at 231-326-4771, to sign up for the workshop. Participants may also sign up by email at e-mail us.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
