The Dummerston Town Pound workshop on October 4 and 5 was a great success. Fine autumn weather made for excellent working conditions. Sixteen participants took their charge, to build with deliberative care, seriously, but at the same time, lighted the work with good humor.
Participants gained confidence in their skills as they saw how adherence to basic walling principals eased the work ahead. Using all stones with their length into the wall made the breaking of joints on the centerline of the stone below, easier. Every stone laid with a level top surface gave a good platform for the course that followed. And keeping an eye on the guidelines with every stone laid made for a fine wall face finish.
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Many thanks to T.J. Mora and Jared Flynn for volunteering their time, skill and energy this past week to help ensure that the site is ready for the upcoming workshop! All we need now is some sunny dry weather!
The dry stone walling workshop will re-create the livestock pound built by Benjamin Alvord in 1796. Nothing remains of the original pound.
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Stone wall building workshop: Recreating the Dummerston Town Pound
October 4 - 5, 2008
Instruction and guidance in standard walling techniques. Participants will build a free standing wall in similar proportion to the original 36 foot square enclosure, including inside and outside corners, and cheek ends, utilizing reused local field stone.
Please contact Great River Arts Institute for more information and to sign up.
Dummerston Stone Pound Project: Volunteers needed to prepare for the upcoming GRAI workshop in October.
In October of 1796, Benjamin Alvord built a livestock pound for the town of Dummerston, Vermont. The size of the fence was 4 feet wide at the base and 6 feet in height. Each of the four sides was 36 feet long. The site, in Dummerston Center, was near where the Historical Society building stands today but nothing remains of the original pound.
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Four testers from across the US successfully passed their DSWA Initial Certification test in Barre, VT this past week. Congratulations to Richard McNally, NY; Christian Petrovich, OR; David Claman, MT; and John Engelland, CO. Many thanks to Silas and Adam for tending and assisting the testers by keeping them well supplied with stone - and enthusiasm, and to Patty Meriam for providing the site and a beautiful old stone wall.
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The Working Landscape: Rock Solid
Vermont Life Magazine - Autumn 2008 issue.
Article on stone workshop and DSWA testing activity in Vermont, written by Sky Barsch with photographs by Stefan Hard. Featuring Vermont dry stone wallers Charley MacMartin, Michael Weitzner, Jared Flynn and Dan Snow.
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WATERFALL BALL, Vermont Black Mountain granite, steel, adhesive, 2008
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ART OF DUMMERSTON, Boulder Curl, Native Stone, 2008, Group Exhibit, Dummerston Historical Society, Dummerston Center, VT, July 26 – October 12, 2008
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Sunny skies and warm temperatures graced the 3-day stone-walling workshop held at the Mohonk Preserve over Memorial Day weekend. Under the guidance of Dan Snow and Andrew Pighills, a hearty team of wall builders created a beautiful and functional stone enclosure. Many thanks to the Mohonk preserve staff for preparing the site and gathering the stone.
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