NOTES FROM THE FIELD

By Lynn Stasick

Greetings from the field! Actually, I have not been in the field too much as of late, having had hip replacement surgery the end of September and back surgery the end of November, but things have improved greatly. I have been in very good hands and have thus managed to stay busy around the office.

I would like to offer a note of thanks for the emails and cards of support. They were greatly appreciated. However, despite the temporary incapacity, preservation marches on! I would like to tell you about an event that will be coming up in March. The Southeast Region of the Association of Living History, Farms,and Agricultural Museums (SEALHFAM) and the West Virginia Association of Museums (WVAM) are joining together to offer a three day conference March 11th through the 13th at Jackson’s Mill in Weston. The event is entitled, “Can We All Work Together? Sharing the Knowledge and Resources; a Partnership for Success.”

According to Jackson’s Mill Preserve WV AmeriCorps member and Sessions Coordinator Joe Obidzinski, there will be a number of presentations covering various issues – including creating a historic site/program from the ground up, developing partnerships to meet ever-changing audiences and financial demands, various perspectives on new and emerging trends in the field of public history, as well as hands-on opportunities to become a blacksmith or grist miller for a day.

In addition, I will be joining with windows expert Derrick Smith on behalf of PAWV on Friday, March 11th, to present an all-day, hands-on, window restoration workshop. We will utilize the windows in a small log house on the mill grounds to teach the attendees how to rehabilitate a historic wooden window – including how to cut and bed glass. For more information, please contact Joe Obidzinski via email at his jobidzin@mail.wvu.eduaddress.

Speaking of workshops, now is the time for those of you interested in having PAWV conduct a historic windows restoration workshop at your site to sign up. The season begins the first crack of spring and ends with the cold weather, so let’s get those windows in good shape while the sun shines! We also off er presentations on a range of other topics – such as hazardous materials found in the home and workplace (and their mitigation), the National Register nomination process, and more. If you are interested in having a workshop at your site, please contact me at lstasick@gmail.com. I look forward to gettng back on the road and visiting with you, but until then, stay well, stay busy, stay excited, and thanks again for the kind concern.

Your friend and servant in preservation,

— Lynn