Focus On: Shaker Village Granary
At the Mt. Lebanon Shaker Village, a collection of timber frame buildings stands the test of time. In 2006, we worked to restore one of the most unique.
Running from Jun 12th through Mid August 2006, a field school was set up at Mt. Lebanon Shaker Village to document, assess, and restore damaged sections of the Granary building’s framework.
As an educational workshop, this project was an opportunity for students to work hands-on with an artifact very unique to the American landscape. The Granary had suffered significant damage from water, neglect, dry rot, and even a small fire at one point in its history.
Under the guidance of Rudy R. Christian, and crew members from Christian & Son, Inc. students documented the entire structure, its dimensions, apparent damage, material composition, and immediate problem areas. Using sophisticated computer modeling techniques, students measured and re-created the entire timber frame structure of the granary in 3D. Using color coding, individual components were identified that required restoration.
Structural scaffolding was erected to provide work platforms and weather protection for the duration of the project. Students removed enclosure materials spanning an entire side of the structure. Interior jacking and temporary supports allowed the main structure to retain its rigidity while an entire wall of structural components was removed for assessment.
Once a complete determination was made of the suitability of each component, species identification was performed. Local land owners were contacted, and trees were donated from local property for the creation of replacement timbers. Above floor level, students used traditional hewing techniques to reproduce the timbers which had ben damaged beyond repair. Below floor level, timbers were sawn for replacements.
The layout techniques used by the original builders were duplicated, and the students were taught how to use traditional tools to re-cut all the joinery in the replacement timbers. Students were also instructed on the delicate process of in-situ repairs to existing timbers that had not been damaged sufficiently to warrant full replacement of their length.
At each step throughout the process, the students were taught the importance of preserving as much historic fabric as possible, how to understand load and structures, and how to make "best practice" decisions in a restoration environment.
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