Introduction:
I have always loved and had a fascination with old houses. As a teenager I worked with my father in his contracting business so, I saw them in all states of disrepair. That never deterred me from imagining how the house could look with a “little TLC”. Later, as an interior designer, that love continued and evolved into my becoming an historic preservationist. I have worked in the non-profit world as a director of several historic sites; worked with clients seeking properties and as a private property owner rehabbing property. Saving older properties and experiencing them come to life once more is most satisfying. This course of instruction has grown out of that love and experience.
There are many avenues for the preservation of historic properties. We will explore many of them within the course of study you are beginning. These properties present us with an opportunity to live, work and visit the craftsmanship and lifestyles of our past. They are the architectural assets of our history and the landmarks that we connect with. They lend us a sense of continuity. To quote Tom Mayes, author of Why Do Old Places Matter, “Old places connect us to our ancestors and our ancestors connect us to old places, giving us a sense of belonging and identity”.
This site is designed to lead the serious preservation student to a clearer understanding of why we should work toward preserving the structures of the past, whether they’re simple to lavish private residences or a part of an existing commercial environment. It will assist those who are interested in purchasing an older house as a residence, those who want to create a business in an older property or someone who wishes to purchase older properties for the purpose of rehabilitation and resale.
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