Practical Preservation

On this week’s episode of the Practical Preservation podcast, Danielle spoke with Preservation Advocate Randolph “Randy”l Harris. Randy believes that “history is local” and told us about the beginnings of the Lancaster walking tour, and how it evolved into a sought after attraction. Randy also discussed the Underground Rail Road and its history in Lancaster County.

You can find information on the walking tour online at: www.lancasterhistory.org

Randy’s website with history of the Underground Rail Road is located here: http://undergroundrroriginspa.org/

And Randy’s website about land use and historic preservation can be found here: www.lancasterheritageallies.org

On this week’s episode of the Practical Preservation Podcast, Danielle spoke with Josh Blanc of Clay Squared to Infinity in Minneapolis Minnesota. From their website, “Clay Squared crafts handmade tiles in many shapes and colors for kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces, and as art tile. We feature tile by local and national artists and offer the largest selection of historic reproduction tile lines in the US.”

Danielle and Josh discussed matching historic materials and why it is better to preserve and restore than renovate and redesign historic properties and homes. They also discuss why buying from small businesses is better for your historic home.

You can find Clay Squared online at www.claysquared.com, on Instagram @claysquared, and contact them by phone 612-781-6409, or by email [email protected]

On this week's episode of the Practical Preservation Podcast, Danielle spoke with Andrew Cushing, Bureau of Historic Sites Chief for the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Danielle and Andrew discussed how and why to research the history of your home. 

On this week's special Halloween episode of the Practical Preservation Podcast Danielle spoke with Leslie Stainton,author of "Staging Ground: An American Theater and Its Ghosts" about the historic Fulton Theater in Lancaster Pennsylvania. They discussed place preservation, the theater's history dating back to the 1700's, and Leslie's experience with a ghost hunter on the grounds.

You can find "Staging Ground: An American Theater and Its Ghosts" at the Penn State University Press online bookstore, or at major online retailers. 

On this week’s episode of the Practical Preservation Podcast, Danielle spoke with Jere Gibber, Executive Director of the National Preservation Institute (NPI).

Danielle and Jere discussed the importance of volunteering in addition to for profit work in the field of preservation. Jere also talked about the history of NPI and the trainings available through their organization. You can find the trainings and NPI’s podcast on their website at www.npi.org. 

You can contact Jere, and NPI at 703-765-0100, or via email at [email protected]. 

On this week's episode of the Practical Preservation podcast, we spoke with Catherine Fleming Bruce, author and activist. Catherine is the author of "The Sustainers: Being, Building and Doing Good through Activism in the Sacred Spaces of Civil Rights, Human Rights and Social Movements" which received the 2017 Historic Preservation Book Prize from the University of Mary Washington Center for Historic Preservation. Catherine advocates for the preservation of historic spaces significant to the civil rights movement, and discussed the importance of equality in preservation, and ensuring the economic benefits of preservation projects go back to the surrounding communities. 

You can find Catherine's book on Amazon, You can find Catherine on Twitter @TNOVSA, or on Instagram @bruce_catherine. You can contact Catherine via email at [email protected]. 

On this week's episode of the Practical Preservation Podcast we spoke with Marc Jamieson of Ontario, Canada based Heather & Little, a family owned custom metal fabrication business. Marc started with the family business as a child and learned the ins and outs as he grew up, now Marc's son is starting his sheet metal apprenticeship. Listen in to hear more about why restoration building is green building and about some of the unique projects Heather and Little has worked on. 

You can contact Heather & Little via phone at 866.855.5371, or by email at [email protected]. 

On this week's episode of the Practical Preservation Podcast Danielle spoke with author Michael Olmert about his book Kitchens, Smokehouses, and Privies: Outbuildings and the Architecture of Daily Life in the Eighteenth-Century Mid-Atlantic. Michael explained how by looking at buildings, we can discover clues about every day life from when they were used. We also learned about hexagonal and octagonal rooms, and why 18th century American dairies had northern facing doors. 

You can find Michael in the English Department at University of Maryland. 

On this week's episode, we spoke with Kelly Parks, realtor at Paris Gibson Realty in Montana, specializing in

historic farms, ranches, and estates. We discussed Kelly's experience with her historic homes, and her advocacy for historic spaces in Montana and across the country. We also discussed positive trends in preservation and why we shouldn't be afraid of taking on historic renovation projects.

You can contact Kelly via email at [email protected] or by phone at 406-788-6826.