Boulder, Colorado, February 19, 2004 – For the third consecutive year, Heritage Conservation Network will be conducting a hands-on building conservation workshop at a historic mill. The site of the latest workshop is the Francis Mill in Waynesville, North Carolina. During the workshop, to be held July 11 – 24, 2004, participants will begin restoration of the 116-year old structure, focusing on the building’s structural framing.

The Francis Mill is a water-powered grist mill that was built circa 1887 by William Francis. It operated for ninety years, closing in 1976. It is now the only extant grist mill in Haywood County. The mill’s current owner, Tanna Timbes, is William Francis’s great-great-granddaughter. A school teacher, she plans to restore the mill to working order and open it to school groups and others interested in learning about North Carolina’s mountain heritage.

Heritage Conservation Network is working with Ms. Timbes and the Francis Mill Preservation Society in organizing the 2004 workshop, which will be the first in a series planned at the site. The series is designed to serve both as an opportunity for preservation enthusiasts to learn a wide range of building conservation and woodworking skills and as a source of valuable labor and technical assistance to the Society. Jeff Finch, a historic building specialist from Franklin, NY, will be the technical expert leading the 2004 workshop. He will teach and guide participants as they do the restoration work, putting into practice what they learn. Participants may attend for one or two weeks and all levels of experience are welcome. The cost of the workshop is $875, which includes lodging. There are special rates available for local participants. Pre-registration is required. Complete details and registration forms are available from HCN’s web site: www.heritageconservation.net.

The other two mills that have been the site of HCN workshops are located in northwestern New Jersey. In 2003 HCN held a workshop at the Asbury Grist Mill, in Asbury, in association with the Musconetcong Watershed Association, which owns the mill. The focus was on historic masonry, and participants repointed significant sections of the fieldstone structure. In 2002, HCN partnered with the Washington Valley Land Trust for a workshop at the Obadiah La Tourette Grist and Saw Mill in Long Valley. Participants fabricated tenons on floor joists and mortises in beams, using tools from the original era of construction and learned about historic mortar. They were able to put four new floor joists in place and complete a considerable amount of repointing.

Heritage Conservation Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of architectural heritage around the world. Through a network of experts, volunteers and community members, the organization aims to increase awareness of the significance of historic sites and foster the appreciation of varied cultures. HCN’s workshops stimulate a community's interest in and knowledge of appropriate conservation skills, helping provide for the long-term preservation of its significant structures and sites.