Workshops at Hanford Mills Museum offer you a chance to explore an interest or hobby in-depth with talented craftspeople and experts. The Museum’s historic facilities are an ideal place to learn about traditional crafts, practices and methods.
Upcoming Workshops:
Gravestone Cleaning Workshop
Date: Thursday, June 18
Time: 1 pm-3 pm
Location: East Meredith Cemetery
Cost: $50/Hanford Mills Museum members, $60/non-members
Instructor: Kurt Riegel
Description: Join restoration specialist Kurt Riegel as he demonstrates the techniques and best practices for properly cleaning, maintaining, and repairing gravestones. The workshop will take place in the East Meredith cemetery, where participants will be able to learn the basics of gravestone maintenance.
Beginning Blacksmithing Workshop: Forging Hardware
Date: August 29
Time: 9 am-4:30 pm
Location: Hanford Mills Museum
Cost: $100/Hanford Mills Museum members, $125/non-members
Instructor: Lucas Novko
Description: Each student will have a chance to learn the basics of blacksmithing including how to operate a coal powered forge, how to use various tools from a blacksmith’s tool kit, how to forge steel to a taper, how to bend steel 90 degrees, how to perform decorative twists, and how to make decorative scroll work. Students taking this class will use these learned skills to forge unique custom hardware that they can take home with them after the class. It is advised that students taking this workshop bring with them a pair of safety glasses, sturdy leather boots/ shoes, and natural fiber clothing such as cotton or wool as well as a bagged lunch.
Historic Cooking: Baking with the Royal Bride, Biscuits, Breads, Crackers, and Muffins
Date: October 10
Time: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Location: Hanford Mills Museum
Cost: $55/Hanford Mills Museum members, $70/non-members
Age: 15 and up
Instructor: Pamela Cooley
Description: Participants will hone their baking and wood-stove cooking skills and develop their “biscuit hands” while preparing a mouth-watering assortment of quick breads. This hands-on workshop uses ingredients and techniques common in the early 20th century, recipes from cookbooks in use in the 1920s, and best-of-all, the Hanford House’s beautiful Royal Bride wood cookstove. A hearty soup and fresh butter will also be made as part of this bread-focused lunch, enjoyed by all in the Hanford House dining room.
Intermediate Blacksmithing Workshop: Forging a Door Latch
Date: October 11
Time: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: Hanford Mills Museum
Cost: $100/Hanford Mills Museum members, $125/non-members
Instructor: Lucas Novko
Description: Students will have a chance to forge their own door latch based on period examples. This course will cover not only the steps to forge a functioning piece of door hardware, but will also discuss historic design and utility, regional blacksmithing traditions, and traditional hardware installation. It is recommended that students taking this course have some prior blacksmithing experience. Students should bring with them a pair of safety glasses, sturdy leather boots/ shoes, and natural fiber clothing such as cotton or wool, as well as a bagged lunch.