Shaker Village Volunteer Work Day, Mercer County, KY

On Saturday, May 16th, six volunteers made repairs to the Turnpike Era rock fences that line the old US 33 route at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. The Volunteer Work Day was in conjunction with the National Barn Alliance's annual National Barn Conference, held at Shaker Village that weekend. Participants in the conference stopped by on Saturday morning to have their questions answered by me and our mason leader.

Jouett Cemetery Volunteer Work Day, Woodford County, KY

Our first Volunteer Work Day of 2009 was held on a chilly, rainy day in Woodford County. Thanks to cover provided by canopies our volunteers stayed dry. Four volunteers showed up to offer their skills and time to make two repairs to a very old cemetery wall. The cemetery is part o the Jack Jouett House Historic Site, and is the home of Captain Jack Jouett, the "Paul Revere of the South."

Hebron Cemetery Workshop, Anderson County, KY

Our first workshop of the year had eleven participants, and was held at the historic Hebron Cemetery in Anderson County, KY. The cemetery has a variety of fence type. Participants spent two days learning the proper techniques for dismantling and repairing a rock fence, and encountered one hurdle - a tree that had grown up next to the fence. The solution was to cut the offending trunk of the tree and build the fence over its stump. The site also had a natural spring with a dry-laid wall above it.