Some electrical work was completed in the WVU Jackson’s Mill Heritage Center, but officials hope to complete the work before school tours this spring, weather-depending.
The WVU Jackson’s Mill Heritage Center on the property farmstead was open for tours last fall, but officials hope to complete electrical work in the building before school tours arrive this spring.
Dean Hardman stands at the reconstruction site before work began.
Staff file photo
Some electrical work was completed in the WVU Jackson’s Mill Heritage Center, but officials hope to complete the work before school tours this spring, weather-depending.
Submitted photo
The WVU Jackson’s Mill Heritage Center on the property farmstead was open for tours last fall, but officials hope to complete electrical work in the building before school tours arrive this spring.
Submitted photo
The new WVU Jackson’s Mill Heritage Center will allow for Appalachian and national artisans to showcase their skills to visitors of all ages.
Submitted photo
A volunteer blacksmith at WVU Jackson’s Mill completed hinges for the new heritage center doors.
JACKSON’S MILL — While the framework for a WVU Jackson’s Mill farmstead building was built by the popular DIY Network show “Barnwood Builders” in April and was open to many groups last fall, the building is expected to be completed within the next month.
“We have a little bit of electrical work to do at this point, but it’s 98 percent complete,” WVU Jackson’s Mill program specialist Dean Hardman said. “It’s usable at this point, but there are a few other things we need to do.”
The new timber frame structure on the WVU Jackson’s Mill farmstead was open for some activities during the Jackson’s Mill Jubilee Aug. 31 and Sept. 1-2, 2018, and during Harvest Time at the Mill Oct. 10-11, 2018,when the building was about 90 percent complete.
Electric lights will be available in the structure, as well as outlets for maintenance equipment.
“We’re going to try to hide as many of the electric switches and outlets in that building” as possible, Hardman said. “What needs to be completed with it is fairly minor stuff — just finishing things on the master plan.”
Campus officials are scheduling spring school tours or other tours before WVU Jackson’s Mill is open to the general public. Hardman said the new building will be a heritage station and offer activities during tours, and he said it will be part of this spring’s tours because of the completed windows and doors.
“It’s going to be utilized for heritage programming for kids and for visiting artisans to demonstrate for kids programs, bus tours and our public weekends,” Hardman said. “Our goal is to get more and more local artisans and also national artisans to be here for artisan activities.”
All of the wood siding was milled from fallen or timbered trees at WVU Jackson’s Mill. “Barnwood Builders” constructed the timber frame structure, made of 350-year-old wood, offsite at the company’s “boneyard” and transported the building in pieces to the site.
A team from WVU Jackson’s Mill coordinated the site prep work, and West Virginia University alum Mark Bowe and his crew instructed the WVU team — using tools and techniques from pioneer days — on completing the necessary construction, raising the structure and putting on the finishing touches.
The group worked for three days through rain, flooding, snow and sleet in April to build the 16-by-20-foot structure.
Hardman credited Bowe with the idea of creating the Heritage Center, which will teach visitors about Appalachian heritage, including candlemaking, quilting and cooking. The building also will serve as a home for Appalachian artisans who want to showcase their work and teach others about their craft.
“I loved the idea of working on this project because it fits with my passion for West Virginia heritage and history, and it provided me with a chance to try something new — adding an executive team-building component to the project,” Bowe said in a press release.
“As someone who has been fortunate to work with an amazing team, many who have been with me from the start, I understand the importance of bringing diverse talents and experiences together to get a job done, as well as the challenges that often come with working in teams. Offering a unique team-building experience to those working in leadership roles was an opportunity I had been thinking about for quite some time.”
The initial WVU Jackson’s Mill episode of “Barnwood Builders” aired on the DIY Network in August, but a follow-up episode was filmed earlier this month for future airing.
The farmstead is generally open each year from May-October due to weather, Hardman said.
Abby Esguerra, WVU Extension Service development director, said the farmstead improvements are part of the Centennial Campaign, which kicked off last fall.
“We have about $2.8 million in improvements we’re working on,” she said. “To date, we’ve raised a little over $2 million. It is remarkable the passion people have for 4-H and for WVU Jackson’s Mill. The role that place has played in people’s lives is really remarkable.”
Donations can be made to the Jackson’s Mill Restoration and Improvement Fund at give.wvu.edu
Staff Writer Jonathan Weaver can be reached at (304) 626-1446 or jweaver@theet.com. Follow me on Twitter @jweaver_theet
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