Carpenter’s Company Hosts Historic Crafts and Trades Fair

Saturdays starting April 27 through May18, join the Carpenters’ Company for free interactive demonstrations in historic crafts and trades. This free exhibition series will be held over the course of four Saturdays and will provide family-friendly interactive events. The traditional trades of brickworking, blacksmithing, and carpentry will be showcased on the first three weekends. The fourth weekend will be dedicated to some of the more modest crafts from that era, such as stone carving, tinsmithing, and basket weaving. All of these skills were critical in the construction of colonial Philadelphia, and the interactive demonstrations by skilled tradespersons will utilize the tools and techniques from that era.

General Information:
DATES: Blacksmithing: April 27, Masonry: May 4, Carpentry: May 11, “Catch-All” Saturday: May 18
TIME: 11:00am – 4:00pm
LOCATION: Carpenters’ Court, Infront of Carpenters’ Hall
COST: Free for attendees

BLACKSMITHING

Join the Carpenters’ Company on Saturday, April 27th for free demonstrations in blacksmithing at Carpenters’ Court in front of Carpenters’ Hall at 320 Chestnut Street. The blacksmith was one of the most essential tradesmen of any colonial town. Making indispensable items such as horseshoes, pots, pans, nails, as well as the tools used by the other skilled craftsmen of their era, blacksmiths were the one-stop shop for all things metal. Come to Carpenters’ Court to witness a real live competition of blacksmiths utilizing tools and techniques, and cheer on our contestants as we hold a competition between skilled smiths. You will be the judge and vote for your favorite blacksmith at this family friendly event for everyone!

Partners/Sponsors/Beneficiaries:
• The Holzman Iron Studio
• Bryn Athyn College Building Arts program

Donations from this weekend will be donated to The Save the Historic Blacksmithing Shop at Fort Mifflin.

MASONRY

Join the Carpenters’ Company on Saturday, May 4th for free interactive demonstrations in masonry at Carpenters’ Court in front of Carpenters’ Hall at 320 Chestnut Street. From its earliest origins, Philadelphia has been a city of brick, rowhomes and cobblestone paths. Philadelphia’s brick masons passed some of the first brick laws in the colonies and were among the first to organize as a trade union. The brick industry in Philadelphia influenced American architecture and building technology unlike any other trade. Additionally, the local limestone, schist, and gneiss were utilized in wall construction throughout the region. Come to Carpenters’ Court to experience live demonstrations of laying brick walls and building arches, similar to the features used in Carpenters’ Hall. The historic tools will be exhibited and displayed. Learn about how skilled bricklayers and masons are employed today and the relevance of their work. Come on out to this family-friendly event for everyone!

Partners/Sponsors/Beneficiaries:
• International Masonry Institute
• Employing Bricklayers Association
• Joseph Dugan, Inc.
• Williamson College of the Trades

Donations from this weekend will be donated to MyWIC, Mentoring Young Women in Construction.

CARPENTRY

Join the Carpenters’ Company on Saturday, May 11th for free interactive demonstrations in carpentry at Carpenters’ Court in front of Carpenters’ Hall at 320 Chestnut Street. In a century when most buildings were built from wood, no tradesmen were more useful than the carpenter and joiner. The carpenter worked from a building’s foundation to its roof ridge. Carpenters of the colonial era were architects and engineers as well as builders. A carpenter laid floors, chiseled mortise-and-tenon joints, framed walls, raised rafters, carved moldings, hung doors, and erected staircases. Come to Carpenters’ Court to experience live demonstrations utilizing common carpentry tools of the colonial era and view the construction of joints and features similar to those in Carpenters’ Hall. Learn about how skilled carpenters are employed today and the value of their work. Come on out to this family-friendly event for everyone!

Partners/Sponsors/Beneficiaries:
• The Carpenters’ Union
• Frank V. Radomski & Sons
• Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters’ Technical College

Donations from this weekend will be donated to the Carpentry Academy at Eastern State Penitentiary’s Preservation Trades Center.

“CATCH-ALL” SATURDAY

Join the Carpenters’ Company on Saturday, May 18th for free interactive demonstrations of a variety of colonial crafts at Carpenters’ Court in front of Carpenters’ Hall at 320 Chestnut Street. Most colonial families had to be able to make their own soap, candles, furniture, cloth, baskets, toys, and musical instruments! Visit Carpenters’ Court to view colonial era crafts such as tinsmithing, basketweaving, broom making, leatherwork, stained glass-work, plastering over wood lath, and stone carving. The 1700s will come to life at this family-friendly event for everyone!

Partners/Sponsors/Beneficiaries:
• Historic Cold Springs Village
• LimeWorks.us & Craftwork Training Center, Telford PA

Any donations from this weekend will be donated to Historic Cold Spring Village.