Research and Documentation

Archaeology Program

Archaeological sites are a non-renewable resource and can be as large as a town or as small as a bone bead, and exist at any locality where the material remains of ancient human activity are found. Archaeological sites are often our only avenue into a distant past not recorded elsewhere. They are protected from vandalism and unauthorized excavation by a range of provincial, territorial, and federal laws and regulations.
In this introductory course to archaeology in Ontario, lectures will focus on how and when the First Nations People and the European settlers appeared in Niagara. Students will participate in our archaeological Field School at Willowbank Estate. Lab workshops will include lab washing and processing procedures with the artifact collection.

Architectural Styles

This introductory course will provide an overview of architectural styles and their origins, with particular emphasis on Greek Revival, Georgian, Colonial, Victorian and Modern (including Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau and Art Deco).

Battlefield Niagara

The dramatic military history of Niagara, particularly the forts and battlefields of the War of 1812, became the catalyst for very early heritage preservation movements in Niagara.  These events, along with the stories related to the Loyalists, were the key focus of the Niagara Historical Society and the Lundy=s Lane Historical Society, both among the first such organizations formed in Canada.    The government was pressured to preserve sites, restore forts, rebuild Brock=s Monument when it was destroyed by an Irish-Canadian terrorist in 1840, erect memorials to Laura Secord and so on.  The importance of this movement in ensuring the preservation of important cultural resources in Niagara cannot be over-emphasized.
Students will be given an overview of the military history of Niagara and an understanding of the importance of this heritage as a catalyst in the growth of the heritage preservation ethic in Niagara.
Method of presentation will be through a class-room lecture and discussion followed by a walking tour of the Queenston battlefield.

Case Studies

Case studies of historic resource places and their conservation planning approach is an important exercise in determining best standard practices implemented. During the course of the school term various field trips to conservation projects will take place. Case studies scheduled include:

• Willowbank Estate, Queenston, Ontario
• St. Mark’s Anglican Church and Cemetery
• Ruthven Park, Cayuga, Ontario
• Rodman Hall, St. Catharines, Ontario
• Laura Secord House, Queenston, Ontario
• Dundurn Castle, Hamilton, Ontario

Cellar to Attic

In addition to social influences or architectural qualities, different types of construction technology and building materials are also significant in the history of architecture. Houses in wooded parts of the province for example were built of logs, reflecting the fact that many early settlers lacked capital and that milled lumber was scarce and costly. In such instances, building materials and the way they were used arose from the social and economic conditions of the area.
In this introductory program an examination of the origins of masonry, timber and metal used as construction materials and how the methods to construct have developed into traditional techniques that were used consistently until the twentieth century. Early construction methods in the Niagara area from the late 18th to late 19th century will be discussed in more detail.

Evolution of Niagara-on-the-lake

This course will explore areas of Niagara's early growth and the patterns that were created in the towns and villages and the late 19th and 20th century changes to the development of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Being a governmental town, Niagara was intended to have a very rigid pattern of development.  This lecture will explore what the intended patterns were to be and how the Town expanded in the 1800’s.  Many case studies of building restoration, expansion and development by early tourists to Niagara will be utilized and examined.   Examples of the lack of preservation in Niagara during the mid 20th century will also show how the community viewed preservation and restoration and what factors led to the Town’s being recognized as the architectural treasure of Ontario. Use of maps, plans, paintings and other evidence will be relied upon heavily to show the 1700’s and 1800’s development of Niagara.

Geology of the Niagara Area

This introductory course will examine the properties of stone and stone identification. The emphasis of the course will be on Niagara area historic building stones. The characteristics of stone will be discussed and observed and diagnostic criteria will be established for identifying each building stone type. The course will cover various properties such as mineralogy, texture, bedding, hardness, etc. and will discuss how these properties affect the quality of building stones in terms of desirability, strength, and durability. Physical and chemical deterioration of various rock types will be discussed in detail. Visits to 19th century quarries in the Niagara area will provide the student with accessible type reference sections for the local historic building stones for a number of localities in Ontario beyond Niagara.

History of Architecture
                                   
This course will consider architectural history as one of the means for understanding historic places and assigning value.  It will provide students with a framework for putting both vernacular and high-style buildings into a larger historical and stylistic context.  It will discuss the role of the architectural historian not only in understanding historic sites, but in influencing conservation plans and implementation.  Case studies will be drawn from Canadian experiences at the federal, provincial and local level.  The course will include field trips to look at local and regional examples of architectural design and intent. 

History, Heritage and Commemoration

This course is intended to give students a historical background and perspective on heritage and preservation work.  The course will explore the history of heritage movements and developments in public historical commemoration within nineteenth and twentieth century Canada, placing them within a larger global context in order to compare them to similar processes in Britain, the United States, and Europe.  We will examine the meanings of ‘the past’ in historical perspective, discussing how and why a range of groups in these societies developed an interest in their histories, and how they understood the meanings of terms such as ‘heritage’ and ‘tradition.’
I will be drawing upon both my own research in historical commemoration in nineteenth and twentieth century southern Ontario and a wide body of literature that examines these questions.  I will supplement the lecture and discussion with visual and audio materials. 

Introduction to Architectural Detailing

By the beginning of the eighteenth century, all the colonies along the eastern shore were under English control.  As a result, architecture and its detailing or ornamentation in these colonies moved towards what was fashionable in Britain where there was a renaissance of the classical style.  Since trained architects were a rarity in the colonies, the wealthy colonist would have a library of beautifully illustrated architectural books on classical and other architectural designs and ornamental details from which to copy.  By emulating the architectural styles in Britain for public buildings and residences, the wealthy colonists could claim to be just a cultivated as their countrymen overseas. 
This introductory course requires the students to have mastered basic architectural technical drawing.  In addition to studying the ideal proportions of the classical elements, ornamental details and their terminology, students will expand their draughting skill with some rendering techniques to their basic line drawings.  

Introduction to Conservation

This introductory course explores the principles of conservation by examining the properties of materials, how and why those materials deteriorate, the external agents that cause or promote deterioration, and measures that can be taken to minimize or prevent damage and deterioration.  Emphasis will be on interactions with light, temperature and relative humidity, with assignment of a related group project.  The course will also explore various approaches to preservation and how those may be practically applied.

Introduction to Historic Structures Report and Development of a Historic Structures Report

A thorough architectural assessment and investigation is the crucial first step along the path of planning for historic resource places. Documenting the building’s history, preparing schematic plans, and assessing the conditions of the building will provide necessary information on which to set priorities for your management plan. The study of the way in which a structure has evolved over time reveals many important facts about its use and occupants. It can also reveal critical information that could be instrumental in obtaining an historic designation. Creating a record of important elements of a structure is, in essence, architectural genealogy.
This course will introduce students to developing a Historic Structures Report.  This kind of report is an essential part of developing a management plan.  It details the findings of the research and documentation phase, and provides insight into original design intentions, subsequent evolution, and current conditions.  The course will consider a variety of existing reports, and will then use a historic property as a case study for the students to develop their own reports.

Introduction to Surveying

Land surveying has been a vital building block in development and it is a requirement in the planning and execution of nearly every form of construction. It’s most known contemporary uses are in the fields of transport, building and construction, communication, mapping and the definition of legal boundaries for land ownership.
This course will introduce the methods and basic principles of surveying.

Introduction to Technical Drawing

Any type of restoration or building work must be preceded by a set of detailed construction drawings.  Whether prepared with the assistance of a computer or by hand, these drawings are the visual medium by which all the required information is conveyed for the accurate fabrication of the work.  Students will be taught the basic conventions used in architectural technical drawing.  This course will concentrate on the fundamentals of orthographic   and isometric projections to fully describe elements accurately.  In addition, terminology, geometric construction, scale and line choices, dimensioning, lettering, architectural and other symbols, layout and sequencing of drawings   will be covered. At the end of this introductory course, students will have prepared manually several architectural drawings and have knowledge in reading plans, elevations, sections and details.

Introduction to Wood - (Types and Properties of Wood and Local Woods in Early Niagara)

This introductory course will provide the basics involved in tree identification through the exploration of woods in the Niagara area. We will discuss the type of local wood found in the nineteenth century and the use it had in period homes of the area. A survey of different types of wood and their properties will be examined. The merit and importance of proper wood identification in conservation and heritage restoration projects will also be discussed.

Landscapes and Gardens I

The conservation approach along with the appropriate treatment approaches can ensure the proper retention, care and repair of landscapes and their inherent features. Landscape treatments can range from simple, inexpensive conservation actions, to complex major restoration or reconstruction projects. This introductory course will explore Parks Canada’s Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada.

Locks and Fastenings

This introductory course will explore the hardware component of a conservation project. Topics discussed will include identification, research, manufacturing, window hardware, hinges, locks and finishes.

Measuring and Drawing Existing Buildings

The documentation of historic sites, buildings, structures and ornaments usually consists of two parts.  The first is the written record tracing the origins and history of  the changes or additions to the property to reflect the style trends and improved living standards.  The second is the comprehensive visual record of the existing condition of the building with measured drawings and photographs to show textures. This documentation is then assessed and a management plan created to permit the accurate repair or restoration of part or all of the property.  For archival purposes, measured drawings of historical buildings are beautifully drawn in permanent ink on acid free paper or mylar.
This introductory course requires the students to have mastered basic architectural technical drawing.  The considerations and procedures in the preparation of measured drawings in pencil will be covered.  Students will participate in measuring and drawing an existing architectural feature at Willowbank.

Photographing Buildings

The cardinal rule to be observed in undertaking a conservation project is that everything that seems even remotely significant to the history of the property being studied, should be saved. If the period of significance or interpretation is known from the beginning, evidence from all periods should be documented in order to record crucial material evidence.
This course will introduce to students the techniques involved in taking valuable images of historic resource places, with an emphasis on technical image documentation of built heritage projects.

Conservation Planning

Business Models in Heritage Conservation

This course will look at various business and career models for heritage consultants in the conservation field.  In particular, the course will consider heritage consultants in the private sector and how they operate.  There will be discussion of the relationship of heritage consultants with private sector and public sector property owners, with developers, with general contractors, with other consultants and design professionals, and with conservation specialists.  The evolving nature of heritage consultancy will be discussed, and prospects for the future.

Cultural Landscapes

This introductory course will introduce students to the concept of cultural landscapes.  This concept is increasingly used as a basis for both theory and practice in the conservation field.  The course will examine the development of cultural landscape theory, both in Canada and abroad, and its increasing use by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO and others as a basis for understanding and protecting important historic sites.  It will look at ways in which it unites cultural and natural resource conservation, and the importance of aboriginal perspectives in developing this more holistic approach. Students will be introduced to ecological analysis, approaches to conservation, documenting the cultural landscapes and commemorative and ecological integrity.

Developing a Implementation Plan

This course will introduce students to the development of implementation plans and strategies for historic properties.  It will include a discussion of how implementation plans are based on the findings of the research and documentation phase.  It will consider how the three primary conservation options – preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse – can be evaluated in light of the values assigned during the research phase.  It will highlight the differences between these options and the detailed technical issues that must be considered.  Case studies will be used to illustrate how implementation plans are developed and applied, and students will take an existing challenge at Willowbank or elsewhere to develop a model plan.  

Business Models in Heritage Conservation

This course will look at various business and career models for heritage consultants in the conservation field.  In particular, the course will consider heritage consultants in the private sector and how they operate.  There will be discussion of the relationship of heritage consultants with private sector and public sector property owners, with developers, with general contractors, with other consultants and design professionals, and with conservation specialists.  The evolving nature of heritage consultancy will be discussed, and prospects for the future.

Craftsmanship and Project Implementation

Carpentry

Best conservation practices in carpentry requires an understanding of a variety of different skills, but the main requirements for a carpenter are good hands, an inventive mind and an eye for colour and detail.
This introductory course will concentrate on learning the basic skills and principles of carpentry so that any project can be approached in a controlled manner and with great confidence.

Dry Stone Wall Workshop

The workshop will include the taking down of a small section of an existing damaged wall (if needed), site preparation and hands-on instruction in rebuilding of a free standing wall (not a retaining wall). Any tools necessary for this beginner level course will be provided.

Forge Program

In this introductory course students will cover how blacksmithing develop over the centuries, how it was used and is currently being applied today, forging techniques, materials of construction and safety, how to light and maintain a coal forge fire, safety around the forge and using hammer/tongs for basic hammer control. Ultimately students will expand into forging basic shapes and learn to navigate around the anvil.

Introduction to Plaster and Plaster Workshop

“Plaster in an historic building is like a family photo album. The handwriting of the artisans, the taste of the original occupants, and the evolving styles of decoration are embodied in the fabric of the building. From modest farmhouses to great buildings, regardless of the ethnic origins of the occupants, plaster has traditionally been used to finish interior walls.
A versatile material, plaster could be applied over brick, stone, half timbered, or frame construction. It provided a durable surface that was easy to clean and that could be applied to flat or curved walls and ceilings. Plaster could be treated in any number of ways: it could receive stencilling, decorative painting, wallpaper, or whitewash. This variety and the adaptability of the material to nearly any building size, shape or configuration meant that plaster was the wall surface chosen for nearly all buildings until the 1930s or 40s.”*
This introductory workshop will introduce students to the basic principles of plaster and its applications.

*The Preservation of Historic Architecture, The Department of the Interior, 2004, The Lyons Press

Introduction to Woodworking Tools

Hand tools are as unique as hands themselves. Each simple tool can accomplish the most complicated task, for students this will entail the hands on approach to learning in order to gain the fundamental experience of chisel work, planning, paring, inlaying, etc. as it relates to restoration practices. The elements of tool handling are essential.
This course will provide a survey of the various early hand tools from the ad to the plane in order for students to gain an understanding of the form and function of tool design. From heavy framing to fine detail work, the identification, and maintenance of many common, as well as, project specific tool examples will be covered. A basic understanding of the design and function of hand tools will enable students to assess and appreciate the craft of the carpenter.

Introduction to Stained Glass

Glass is a highly versatile medium. In its molten state, it can be spun, blown, rolled, cast in any shape and given any colour. Once cooled it can be polished, bevelled, chipped, etched, engraved, or painted. Of all the decorative effects possible with glass none is more impressive than stained glass. Since the days of ancient Rome, stained glass in windows and other building elements has shaped and coloured light in infinite ways. It appears in all building types and architectural styles, embellishing the light in a great cathedral, or adding a touch of decoration to the smallest row house or bungalow.
While stained glass windows can last for centuries careless workmen can destroy them instantly. Extreme care must be exercised, even in the most minor work. Regardless of the size or complication of the project, a professional must do the repair or restoration work. This introductory course will survey the history, cleaning, repair, conservation and protection of stained glass.

Joinery

Joinery is the highly skilled art of assembling exposed woodwork in the interiors of buildings. Whereas Cabinetry refers to the rougher, simpler, and primarily structural elements of wood assembling, Joinery has to do with difficult surfaces and curvatures, such as those of spiral stairs, with complex intersections of members or moldings, and with the handling of the finer qualities and varieties of woods. The Joiner's skill and art accordingly approaches those of the cabinetmaker: one must have an extensive knowledge of geometrical relations and projections, in addition to being manually proficient. In modern woodworking, however, the hand processes of the Joiner have, to a large degree, been superseded by mechanical means.
Traditional wooden joinery is the hallmark of the Heritage Carpenter. In this introductory course we will survey traditional fine joinery techniques.

Laying a Flagstone Floor

Natural stone is a geological wonder. The richness in the variety of colours and the markings is a sight to behold. Architects and builders from every age have prized stone as a building material. The ancient Romans were the first to use it to make beautiful stone floors. No two stones are the same and each brings with it a piece of history. In recent years stone has been experiencing a revival, and now flagstone flooring is again proving to be a stylish choice.
This hands-on course will introduce students to the basic principles and skilled art required in laying a flagstone floor.

Lime Plaster Mixes

Plasterers in North America have relied on two materials to create their skilled art, lime and gypsum. Until the end of the 19th century, plasterers used lime plaster was made from four ingredients: lime, aggregate, fiber, and water. The lime came from ground and heated limestone or oyster shell; the aggregate, from sand; and the fiber from cattle or hog hair. Manufacturing changes at the end of the 19th century made it possible to use gypsum also as a plastering material. Gypsum and lime plaster were used in combination for the base and finish coats during the early part of the 20th Century.

This introductory workshop will introduce the students to traditional recipes and techniques involved in mixing lime plaster.

Logs to Lumber

The felling and cutting of first growth forest leads to the construction of the most common to the most complicated shelters of early settlers. Tree felled to pit sawn operations of the early 1700’s can still be seen today. Rich in history the local area can provide several examples of early technology that transformed the pit sawyers job into one that would eventually disappear, as water and steam driven devices took over, all of which would enhance the carpenter’s trade to new heights.
In this course students will examine surface treatments to assist in determining methods of milling. Students will also participate in hands on work consisting of hand planed finishing, and scrapping, to produce lumber for use in restoration.

Masonry Tools

Stone was quarried in North America as a building and paving material before the Revolutionary War, and the North American cut stone industry lagged behind European production until the development of a railway system during the mid-1800s. Mechanized cutting and finishing tools and methods during the late 1800s and early 1900s significantly boosted industrial activity, as did the building boom of the 1920s.
This introductory course will examine the early construction methods and tools used in stone masonry of North American period homes.

Mortar Mixes, Building and Repointing a Stone Wall

This introductory course will enable students to identify the different features of stone wall construction, including footings, various layout patterns, and the selection of appropriate stone and mortar. Students will also acquire the knowledge necessary to apply the appropriate techniques and materials required for the construction of stonewall. Emphasis will be on the value of new stone structures that are in harmony with historic practices and based on traditional skills.  Students will also acquire the knowledge necessary to apply appropriate techniques and materials required for the conservation of old stone walls.

Stone Cutting Workshop

The Great Pyramids of Giza are constructed of more than six million tons of cut stone with joints no more than one-fiftieth of an inch between them. Anyone who has ever attempted his own masonry work will justifiably marvel at such a feat. Working with stone is an age-old craft that is very satisfying. A stone project has an air of immortality. Many stone buildings, walls, and fences are centuries old. Stone can be used around the home to build long-lasting and beautiful projects such as patios, a garden walk, steps, a retaining wall, flowerbeds, or even a building. Although the basic stonework used for these types of projects is fairly simple, working with stone is not easy; it is a highly skilled art that takes patience and practice.
This introductory workshop will teach the basic stone-cutting methods in shaping and working with stone.

Timber Framing and Repair

The fundamental structure of early 19th century building is the timber frame. Unlike today’s framers, early framers were in fact the most highly skilled carpenters. Timber framing brings with its craft some of the most complicated joinery related to stress and load, yet simplest in its delivery.
Students will have the opportunity to look at period samples, as well as work on small-scale models. Joinery examples essential to bent construction, rafter configuration, wall construction, mortise and tenon, scarf joinery, roof layouts, cornice gutters, and other details of 19th century rudimentary construction, repair and reconstruction methods will be covered in this course.

Plaster Workshops

The conservation of historic plaster may at first appear so laden with problems that its total removal seems the only alternative. There are however, sensible and historical reasons for saving it. Three-coat plaster used in all historic buildings is unmatched in strength and durability. It resists fire and reduces sound transmission. Original lime and gypsum plaster is part of a building’s historic fabric. Its smooth trowelled or textured surfaces and subtle contours evoke the presence of earlier craftsmen.
This plaster workshop will explore techniques and applications involved in the conservation of plaster walls.

Windows I

“The repair and weatherization of existing wooden windows is more practical than most people realize, and that many windows are unfortunately replaced because of lack of awareness of techniques for evaluation, repair and weatherization. Wooden windows, which are repaired and properly maintained, will have greatly expanded service lives while contributing to the historic character of the building.
Evaluating the architectural or historical significance of windows is the first step in planning for window treatments, and or general understanding of the function and history of windows is vital to making proper evaluation. As part of this evaluation, one must consider four basic window functions: admitting light to the interior spaces, providing fresh air and ventilation to the interior, providing a visual link to the outside world and enhancing the appearance of a building.”*
This introductory course will explore the restoration, not the replication, of period sash. The following fundamentals will be covered: structure, design and profile, disassembly with minimal damage, the cause of and repair, finishes, reassembly and glazing.

*The Preservation of Historic Architecture, The Department of the Interior, 2004, The Lyons Press

Wood Carving

In this introductory hands-on course students will learn practical instruction in cutting of wood, history of design, and wood chipping and carving of patterns with explanations being given to all processes.