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Caledon Citizen https://caledoncitizen.com/stonefest-2014-brought-several-new-features-to-alton-mill/ Export date: Tue Dec 24 13:28:04 2024 / +0000 GMT |
Stonefest 2014 brought several new features to Alton Mill By Bill Rea Historic Alton Mill recently had some new features constructed on their site. They include a new wall at the edge of the parking area, a decorative cairn, a bench and sign post. And they are all made completely from stone, courtesy of the Dry Stone Walling Association of Canada. The event was Stonefest 2014. The festival was a gathering of professional wallers and walling enthusiasts. The Dry Stone Walling Association of Canada is a not for profit group of professional and amateur wallers who promote the art, craft and science of dry stone walling and dry stone features. They believe the aesthetic appeal and natural beauty of stone creates a positive accent to any landscape. The association is also trying to increase awareness of the advantages and possibilities of working with stone. Dozens of volunteers were hard at work, have come from various places in north American and even England, breaking individual rocks with hammers and chisels, and then fitting them into place. And the work was dry in the truest sense — no mortar was used. Jared Flynn, a board member with The Stone Trust (the American version of Dry Stone Canada), said everything is held together by gravity. He also pointed out that since mortar is not used, the structures have more flexibility in the environment. “The two basic principles involved here are gravity and friction,” he added. Flynn was up from Brattleboro, Vermont, to support the Stonefest effort. In addition to the construction projects, Flynn said there was an education component too, as they were trying to enable local people to get the chance to learn something about it. “It's really about providing access to the craft,” he said. “These exact same methods are being taught world-wide,” he added. Although it was mostly men out at the Mill, there were some women pitching in and placing stones. “It's the women who are better wallers, with their attention to detail,” he observed. There were some people out, doing dry stone work for the first time. Mel Farrell of Guelph said he wife signed him up for the event as a birthday present. “It's satisfying when you get going,” he commented. Bill Jeffers, director and treasurer of Dry Stone Canada, said the festival is held every year. Once they find a host, they sit and work out what items are going to be created. He added they try and incorporate a training workshop so people can learn more about the craft. Jeremy Grant, one of the owners of the Mill, said they were approached about four years ago to see if they would be interested in hosting the festival one year. He also pointed out Dry Stone Canada was commissioned to do work last year on the village square in Alton (across the street from the mill). Grant pointed to a dry stone wall on the property, known as The Leaving, built from stones that were unearthed when the Mill was renovated about six years ago. “There were tons and tons and tons of stone that came out of that,” he remarked. Grant said Upper Canada Stone of Shanty Bay provided the raw materials, namely the stone, and Drexler Construction in Rockwood supplied a front-end loader to move all the stone. He said the new features at the Mill are going to be a benefit to the facility. “The public can enjoy this,” he said. “These things should last a lot of years.”  Cuthbert Noble (right) had travelled from Huddersfield in England to take part in the festival. He was working with Patrick Callon of Melbourne, Ontario, and Ken Davies of London.  Mike Lush of Mono and Mel Farrell of Guelph were getting their first experience working with dry stone.  Brian Oates of Erin said he'd been piling stones since he was a kid.  People taking part in Stonefest 2014 were entertained by these musicians who were walking through the grounds; Colin Couch, Henry Muth and Andrew Henry from Guelph. |
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Post date: 2014-10-24 13:18:19 Post date GMT: 2014-10-24 17:18:19 Post modified date: 2014-10-24 13:18:19 Post modified date GMT: 2014-10-24 17:18:19 |
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