In 1802 John James Dufour, founder of the town and local vineyards, purchased the land in the Northwest Territory.  Another French-speaking Swiss, Louis Gex Oboussier, bought it from him and developed it in 1805. The Swiss called Indian Creek "Venoge" after a river in their Swiss homeland, but the Gex farm cottage shows the influence of French colonial architecture of the lower Mississippi Valley, extremely rare (if not unique) in the Ohio Valley.

The cottage's posts-on-sill timber frame was precisely measured and symmetrical ... mortise-joined and wood-pegged throughout.  Brick nogging insulation supported the first floor plaster, hand-split accordion lath the second.  A grand walnut mantel surrounded the cooking fireplace.

The entire property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places under designations: European, Exploration/Settlement and Architecture/Engineering.

The Venoge Farmstead is located on Indian Creek and State Route 129, two miles west of Vevay, Switzerland County, Indiana.

The Workshop - September 20, 2008  10 am - 4:30 pm

After an introduction to Venoge and Switzerland County history, the workshop will present these topics, most using the Venoge cottage as the example:

·     Dendrochronology as an aid in dating of historic structures using samples of work done at Venoge.

·     Using clues, remnants and ghost shapes to reconstruct original features of a structure.

·     Clay and brick making and the brick nogging at Venoge

·     Building a timber frame house, relating building techniques used at Venoge to those found at Vincennes

·     Demonstration of plastering on wood lath

Some hands on work by the registrants may be involved.  A discussion of  building details is anticipated.

The Speakers

Patrick Cunningham,  Pat will discuss remaining clues in a building’s structure that can be used to determine the structure’s original configuration.

      Tinner, BA in History University of Wisconsin, 35 years working in museum settings, living history and training in multiple early trades.

Dr. Darin Rubino - Dr. Rubino will explain tree ring analysis and show how that analysis done at Venoge can be used to help in the restoration of buildings.

     Dr. Rubino is a forest ecologist and an Assistant Professor of Biology at Hanover College. His main interest is dendrochronology, the study of tree-rings. He uses patterns of tree rings to understand the influence of historic human impacts and natural processes on forest structure, function, and composition. Currently, he mainly uses tree rings to date the construction of historic buildings in southern Indiana and adjacent Kentucky.

John Marsh, John will explain early brick making techniques and relate them to brick nogging found at Venoge.

     BFA in Ceramic Arts & Design, NY State College of Ceramics at Alfred, NY: Artist in Residence for the Indiana Arts Commission, West Lafayette & Terre Haute; 29 years experience in building trades and restoration;  contracting work for State Museums and State Historic Sites.

Orbin Ash,   Using Venoge as the example, Orbin will describe how a timber frame house is built and relate Venoge to the early French buildings at Vincennes.  

     Twenty one years experience as State of Indiana Historic Site Construction Manager: Extensive work in structure restoration, degrees in chemistry and art from Anderson College.

Terry Wullenweber  Terry will describe the method used in plastering homes c. 1800.

     Terry is a third generation Master Plasterer, having learned the trade from his father.  He specializes in all forms of decorative plastering.  He has 37 years experience in the trade and has worked on many Indiana State Historic Sites.

Allan Cornelius  Allan will help coordinate the workshop and give a presentation on early building component manufacturers from the area.

     BA from Transylvania with a major in French and a minor in English and Music.  Allen has been restoring houses since 1970, beginning in Kentucky and then in Charleston, South Carolina.

Donna Weaver, Donna will introduce Musee de Venoge and the local Switzerland County history.

     President of Musee de Venoge, 15 years work in living history and early decorative arts.

Questions? Please email them to:  dw1836@embarqmail.com

 

This program was made possible by an        Historic Preservation Education Grant from:                                           Supported by a partnership of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Indiana Humanities Council Strengthening the ties between us.