Yestermorrow Design/Build School is hosting a series of free public lectures this spring exploring historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects in Vermont and beyond.
The series, titled “Historic Preservation – Meaning, Memory, and Stewardship,” takes place Wednesday evenings from March 18 through April 22 at the school’s main studio in Waitsfield. Talks run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and are open to the public.
Local experts will present projects highlighting innovation in historic preservation, restoration techniques, and strategies for improving the resilience of historic buildings.
The first lecture on March 18 features Eliot Lothrop discussing the restoration of Moses Whitcomb’s “Monitor Barn,” built in 1901 by North Ferrisburgh timber framer Charles Miller. The talk will examine the Whitcomb family’s 19th-century dairy farming operations and Miller’s legacy of large timber-frame barns across Chittenden and Addison counties, along with recent restoration work on the barn including structural jacking, timber repairs, and slate roof work.
On March 25, Katelyn Hudson will discuss the reconstruction of the Stone Hut on Mount Mansfield, a warming shelter originally built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The building was destroyed by fire in 2015 and rebuilt through a collaboration involving Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation, Donald P Blake Jr., Inc. and Northern Architects.
Ben Doyle of the Preservation Trust of Vermont will speak April 1 about community preservation efforts and the nonprofit’s nearly 50 years of work helping towns protect historically and culturally significant buildings such as general stores, theaters, and barns.
On April 8, Will Wallace-Gusakov of Goosewing Timberworks will share his experience helping rebuild the timber roof frame of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris following the devastating Notre-Dame Cathedral fire.
The April 15 lecture will feature Yestermorrow executive director Britton Rogers discussing case studies on preserving and adapting modern architecture and landscapes while maintaining their historical character.
The series concludes April 22 with Jamie Duggan presenting on emerging preservation policies and tools aimed at improving the resilience and performance of historic buildings, including strategies for flood protection, energy efficiency, and climate adaptation.
For more information about the lecture series, contact Sarah Johnson at
