Hopewell Furnace Stone Wall Masonry Training Event

Learn the Ancient Craft of Dry-Laid Stone Masonry!
Drystone Walling Workshop offered at
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
April 30 – May 1, 2011
Individuals interested in learning more about Pennsylvania’s wonderful dry-laid stone walls and
the ancient craft of drystone stone masonry are invited to participate in a general public
workshop scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 30 – May 1, at Hopewell Furnace National
Historic Site. Hosted by the National Park Service, this two-day introductory workshop will be
taught by professional drystone masons from the nationally recognized Dry Stone Conservancy,
a Kentucky-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve historic drystone
structures and to revive and promote the ancient craft of dry-laid stone masonry.
Hopewell Furnace East Race (before) Dry Stone Workshop (after)
Dry Stone Workshop (during)
Drystone masonry is the method of building enduring stone structures with the use of any mortar.
The Conservancy’s workshops are hands-on training events where participants learn the craft
while restoring an important historic drystone structure, thus contributing to the public’s
understanding of our nation’s incredible drystone heritage. The Hopewell Furnace National
Historic Site project focuses on the repair of the Historic East Race, a structure that dates to the
18th century. The workshop is designed for enthusiasts and masons with little to no previous
drystone experience who would like to gain a basic understanding of this beautiful and practical
craft. The pace will be comfortable as participants, guided by the Conservancy’s professional
drystone mason instructors, learn the fundamental skills needed to repair a retaining wall that
supported the soil and hill above the East Race. The wall will be restored using native stone. The
work will demonstrate the techniques necessary to create a dry stone laid wall that will remain
structurally sound for years to come.
The workshop is limited to 18 participants and runs from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM both days. The
workshop includes a brief classroom introduction to the “four basic principles and five golden
rules” of drystone construction followed by hands-on instruction for the remaining two days. All
participants will receive a copy of the Conservancy’s training manual Building and Repairing Dry
Stone Fences & Retaining Walls. Advance registration is required by contacting the
Dry Stone Conservancy at 859-266-4807 for a registration form. The fee for the two day
workshop is $300; a deposit of $100 is required to guarantee your spot. To register and learn
more about the Dry Stone Conservancy go to www.drystone.org.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is located in Union and Warwick Townships with the
main entrance, five miles south of Birdsboro, PA, off PA Route 345. The park’s mailing address
is 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA 19520. For directions and more information go to
www.nps.gov/hofu.