Rest Haven Cemetery will hold a two-day workshop on September 28th and 29th to restore structures at the site. In conjunction with the Dry Stone Conservancy (DSC), the Heritage Foundation’s Next Generation is heading up efforts to rebuild this piece of Franklin’s history.
The workshop will educate participants and teach them this specific restoration process. “It’s not often that we literally get to lay the foundation for historic preservation in our community, and to make an impact that will benefit future generations here in Franklin,” said Sean Carroll, Next Gen president. “Rest Haven is the final resting spot for such notable Franklinites as Tod Carter, so we are honored to help restore this hallowed ground.”
The two-day workshop will guide aspiring stonemasons in rehabilitating the walls of Rest Haven cemetery on Fourth Avenue North in Historic Downtown Franklin. Attendees will learn the basics of dry stone masonry, an architectural feature that is a hallmark of Tennessee and Kentucky. The last restoration of this type at Rest Haven occurred in 2007.
The workshop is asking for a $300 registration fee for participants to help fund the exercise. In addition to the two-day hands on workshop, a presentation will be held Friday, September 25th offering an educational look into history of dry stone walls, and their historical importance to the area. That event is free and begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Franklin City Hall boardroom. The featured speaker is Neil Rippingale, a master craftsman with DSC.
For more information or to register, contact the Heritage Foundation at (615) 591-8500 or email [email protected].
