historic house
Howard Hall Farm is both an historic restoration project and a vehicle for educating people in sustainable, environmentally conscious restoration techniques. The site of our learning laboratory is a 1780s stone manor in the heart of the Hudson River Valley. This Federal style home presents a number of restoration challenges specific to this region of the country. We invite you to join us in our effort to RESTORE GREEN.
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Howard Hall Farm Blog

Monday, April 21, 2008

PLASTER RAISING PARTY


THREE COAT LIME PLASTER ON RIVEN LATHE

Come and learn the materials and methods of lime plaster on wooden lath.
Howard Hall will have a plaster raising party for two successive

Saturdays, scratch coat then the intermediate coat on the main parlor
ceiling and walls.

(A time will be set up for the finishing coat in the near future.)
We will be:
  • mixing lime plaster
  • plastering
  • celebrating
Joining in is free as a learning workshop,
but you will have to work with a trowel. Lunch is provided.
Booking in advance is required. 
Call 518-945-1253
or email: howardhall.farm@gmail.com

Open to people in the trades as well as homeowners eager to learn.

This is a unique and free opportunity to learn about historic lime plaster
in a workshop setting. We will be practicing on the ceiling of the parlor
at Howard Hall Farm in Athens, New York.


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Related events:
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REMAKING LIME CROWN MOLDING
in July with Rory Brennan, the plasterer from "This Old House".
This is a structured as a paid class with fee limited
number of students. Click the classes tab for more information
or contact us: howardhall.farm@gmail.com


PRIVATE MORTAR CLASSES
with Reggie Young on exterior pointing with lime mortars.
We will cover mixing of mortar, proper prep of the area, pointing and curing.
Whitewash recipes and appilcations can also be covered.
For more information, contact: howardhall.farm@gmail.com

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Thursday, May 10, 2007

This is Wesley



He's up on the wall re-pointing with lime mortar.

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THE EXPERIMENT:

This is the front of the Federal Mansion in progress....for those who are not color-blind, I'm sure the oddity of the top level will jump out at you immediately. You might ask, "What the hell were they thinking using two different kinds of wood on the siding up there?" That's understandable. Here's what we were thinking: Rumor has it that cedar doesn't hold paint as well as pine. We wanted to test that. What if people have been cruelly slandering cedar all these years for no reason without even realizing it? Making it go to different drinking fountains and sit at the back of the truck for no reason but prejudice....wouldn't that be atrocious? We can't let the 'alleged' injustice go on! Reggie is doing an experiment on his house to compare the difference between cedar and pine...so, stay tuned and we'll let you know what the outcome is.


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REGGIE TAUNTS BLOSSOM BY PRETENDING SHE CAN HAVE ONE OF OUR NEW BROCHURES:



Blossom thanks Reggie for being allowed to be near the brochures:



Meanwhile, in delusional jack-russel land: Blossom thinks she's a mink coat.....different kind of priceless. Much more wiggly, and much less valuable.


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