WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ GOING ON!
Restoring the Earthquake-Damaged Masonry of Salubria
The Memorial Foundation of the German Colonies in Virginia (the Germanna Foundation) will present a Historic Masonry Restoration Symposium at the c. 1757 Salubria Manor on Saturday, October 15 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Salubria, a property of the Germanna Foundation, is located on Route 3, seven miles east of Culpeper, VA. The symposium will focus on the most suitable restoration techniques to repair the recent earthquake damage to the historic masonry of Salubria. Hands-on demonstrations of several masonry repair techniques will be lead by Jimmy and Jeffrey Price of Price Masonry, Inc. and Virginia Lime Works, Madison Heights. VA. Tim Winther of Crest Hill Stoneworks, WV, and Jason Whitehead, Custom Brickmaker, from Colonial Williamsburg will also contribute their expertise in the sessions. Master craftsman and Virginia building historian Gordon Lohr will demonstrate wood planing techniques and discuss details of the upcoming restoration work on the Georgian-era windows of Salubria.
This event will be of particular interest to owners of historic masonry buildings that suffered damage from the August 23, 2011 Mineral Earthquake, or from other natural causes. Masons, general contractors, home owners, building managers, architectural historians, planners, students of cultural history and all those who admire fine historic brickwork will be captivated by this insightful educational event.
The symposium topics include an introduction to "The Lime Cycle" and authentic 18th century Virginia brick masonry techniques, the variety of lime mortars, putties, stuccoes and paints; demonstrations of lime slaking; stress crack repair with casein mortar injection, broken brick replacement, repointing and rebuilding of the ruptured chimney stacks, custom replica brick manufacturing, historic repointing demonstrations, as well as finish dressings for new jointwork, and critical fall weather protection for curing lime mortar.
The symposium fee is $20.00. Lunch will be provided. For symposium details and to register online visit www.germanna.org, or call the Germanna Foundation at 540-423-1700. Pre-registration is encouraged as seating is limited to 100 participants.
Salubria’s twin 19 feet high chimneys suffered extensive damage during the earthquake. The tremors also created several significant stress cracks in the manor house’s second floor walls. The Germanna Foundation has engaged Virginia Lime Works and Price Masonry to conduct the repairs and stabilization as they employ “the most authentic historic methodology being practiced today in the lime-mortar-and-handmade-brick sector of the profession”. The firms are well known for their previous work at James Madison's Montpelier, Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, and the White House. The Germanna Foundation gratefully acknowledges our event sponsor Hitt Contracting, Inc.
The Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization founded in 1956. Its purpose is to preserve and make known the history of the Virginia Germanna Colonies, their operations under the patronage of Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood, his residence and activities at Germanna and in the surrounding area. The foundation owns Salubria, the former home of Spotswood’s widow, Butler Brayne Spotswood Thompson.
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If you would like more information about the symposium, the Germanna Foundation, or wish to schedule an interview, please call Karen Quanbeck at 540-423-1700 or e-mail Karen at kquanbeck@germanna.org.