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In 2009, AiP volunteers and members from a broad coalition of concerned groups began restoring one of the Cairo’s many vacant, but structurally sound, historic shotgun houses. This was the first stage of a large-scale project to use historic preservation to spark new business, increase heritage tourism, and even attract new residents to this historic town.
After a successful workshop, followed by two additional months of hard work by students and faculty from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale under the direction of Robert Swenson, Associate Professor and architect, the exterior restoration of the
Queen Anne-style shotgun house on Sycamore Street is nearly finished. The house, purchased by the City of Cairo, will initially serve as an office for the Cairo Chamber of Commerce. As such, it will showcase the preservation work accomplished and feature a display illustrating the hands-on preservation process that leads to the creation of affordable housing from existing housing stock.
With restoration of one house well underway, the coalition comprised of the Cairo
VISION 20-20 Committee; the School of Architecture and the Department of History at
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; Cairo Chamber of Commerce; the City of Cairo; Landmarks Illinois; Ray Black & Son, Inc.; AmeriCorps Vista; SIDEZ; and AiP (formerly HCN), is forging ahead and beginning work on a second shotgun house this summer.
AiP is using this momentum to bring more volunteers, sponsors, community involvement and energy to rejuvenation efforts in Cairo. A local graduate student has led the way by purchasing and donating a vacant shotgun house for this summer’s project..
As last year, volunteers will contribute significantly to this historic preservation effort. In return, they will have the opportunity to learn and try their hand at such tasks as the repair and re-glazing of historic wood windows; repair and replication of deteriorated wood detailing; assessment of potential structural problems; and much more. The house restored during the 2010 workshop will be available for purchase as affordable housing, a process that is currently being developed with the City of Cairo and project partners.
In 2009, local and regional residents donated over $11,000 in materials and services.
Equally as impressive, the value of volunteer labor totaled over $12,000, generating amazing results at minimal cost. We hope to see even greater involvement and level of donations in 2010.
If you are able to help by donating materials or professional services, please contact Bill
Harrell with the Cairo VISION 20-20 Committee at 618-967-8270 or wrharrell @ gmail.com or Monica Smith, Cairo Public Library at 618-734-1840 or monica @ ldd.net.
The Cairo Vision 20-20 Committee is currently seeking funds to purchase a third shotgun house, which will be the focus of preservation work in 2011. Costing just $1,000, this is a very feasible fundraising project for a group looking for a way to help a community in need.
Work will be led by Bill Black, Jr., recently “retired” from Ray Black & Son, Inc., who is a regional leader in the field of building preservation and led both the Shotgun House project in 2009 and our 2007 workshop at the Kornthal parsonage. Working with Mr. Black to lead the workshop will be Antoinette Lettiere and James Schmidt, students at SIUC School of Architecture who played a pivotal role in the work completed on the 2009 shotgun house.
Visiting guest experts will provide additional information on the variety of topics involved in the preservation process.
The workshop will be two weeks in length and participants may register for either one or two weeks. The cost is US$775 for one week and US$1,275 for two weeks. This fee covers lodging; breakfast, lunch and snacks (dinners not included); insurance; workshop planning, materials and instruction; and a fieldtrip. Rates are per person, based on double occupancy. Transportation to the workshop is not included and is the responsibility of the participant.
Reduced rates are available for local residents and for volunteers staying in an RV, and therefore not needing lodging. The cost for those staying in an RV is US$425 per week, which includes snacks, lunch, insurance and instruction. Information on where RV’s can park will be provided upon request.
Local residents may participate for a reduced fee of $85 per week, which covers snacks, lunch, insurance and instruction; please contact Zachariah Green directly at Zachariah.Green @ illinois.gov to register.
Workshop participants will be housed at the Days Inn in Cairo. Check-in is available on Sunday of the week you are attending. (Saturday night, June 12, 2010, is not included unless you are attending for both weeks.)
Work hours at the site are generally Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Lunches will be provided at an air-conditioned location near the site. A group fieldtrip will take participants to some of the area's scenic and historic sites. Instruction will be in English.
Local residents may participate for a reduced fee of $85 per week, which covers snacks, lunch, insurance and instruction; please contact Zachariah Green directly at Zachariah.Green @ illinois.gov to register.
If arriving by air, check flights into St. Louis, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee; or
Chicago, Illinois that connect with commuter flights to Marion, Illinois or Cape Girardeau, Missouri. From there, a rental car is still necessary. AiP may arrange shuttle service from nearby airports, so contact workshops @ heritageconservation.net if you need this service. For assistance making travel arrangements, contact Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters, AiP’s partnering travel agency.
Southern Illinois can be quite humid in the summer, with June's average daytime highs being 32 C (90 F). Bring clothing that is suitable for the weather that will also be protective while working. Close-toed shoes are required; long pants and long-sleeved shirts should be brought to the site, although they may not be required at all times. Water bottles, sun screen, hats and insect repellent are highly recommended, as are safety goggles and work gloves. The region is home to a number of insects, including brown recluse spiders, which may be found at the work site. Please be conscious that safety is an important issue at any work site.
Sunday
Arrive and check in at Days Inn, meet other workshop participants.
Monday through Friday
Work 8:30 – 4:30, with lunch provided at an air conditioned location near the work site.
Half- or full-day fieldtrip scheduled during week.
Saturday
Departure, if staying only first week.
Saturday-Sunday
Participants from out-of-town staying for two weeks have the weekend to explore the many historic sites in southern Illinois and across the river in Missouri.
Monday through Friday
Work 8:30 – 4:30, with lunch provided at an air conditioned location near the work site.
Half- or full-day fieldtrip scheduled during week.
Saturday
Departure.
If you have additional questions or would like to discuss this project with AiP staff, please contact us at workshops@adventuresinpreservation.org or call +1 303-444-0128.
Attending the Cairo workshop is one of the best ways to become involved in this community’s efforts to provide their residents with affordable housing. If you find this project intriguing, but are unable to attend, you can still make an impact by supporting conservation work in Cairo with a tax-deductible donation to AiP. Your donation will go directly to providing scholarships, purchasing vital materials, and planning work on the next shotgun house.
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If you would prefer to mail in a gift, please use our donation form.
