GHF Announces Spring Saturday Class Series

Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF)’s popular and informative spring class series starts Saturday, March 14, with Ball State University Historic Preservation master’s degree candidates presenting their findings on natural disaster planning for historic structures. The series of five classes, held on Saturday mornings, combines practical tips with informed discussions of some of the architectural styles represented in Galveston.

“Education has always been an important part of our mission at GHF,” said Brian Davis, director of Preservation and Conservation Services, “and we are determined to expand and strengthen our offerings in that area. We have provided demonstration classes in the spring for more than 10 years. Now we’re adding a broader range of topics of interest to history buffs as well as homeowners. Our goal of historic preservation can only be advanced by fostering a deeper understanding of Galveston’s rich and diverse stock of historic buildings.”

Presentations will take place on Saturday mornings and will usually last two hours. Seating may be limited, so reservations are suggested. Admission to the entire series is $45 for GHF members and $55 for non-members; Admission to individual classes is $10 for GHF members and $12 for non-members. A downloadable registration form is available online at www.galvestonhistory.org. Or call Matt Farragher at 409-750-9108 to register.

This spring’s classes include:

Saturday, March 14: “Natural Disaster Planning for Historic Properties” at 8 a.m. on the second floor of the Architectural Salvage Warehouse. This class will be presented by Professor David Kroll and the Ball State University Historic Preservation masters degree students as a part of their annual week-long field study on the Island. The students will present their findings on natural disaster plans for historic properties; their report will encompass plans for residential, commercial, and institutional buildings.

Saturday, March 21: “What is ‘Historic’?” at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the Architectural Salvage Warehouse. Matt Farragher, Project Coordinator in GHF’s Preservation and Conservation Services Department, will discuss the various levels of historic designation available at the national, state, and city levels. Some of the basics discussed will be what qualifies a property/site as historic, how to apply for recognition, and what benefits come with different historic designations. The class will also cover what it means when a property/site has a historic designation, the issues involved in property ownership within a historic district, steps needed to establish a historic district, protections available for historic properties/sites, and application procedures for historic plaques and markers.

Saturday, March 28: “Saving Energy in Your Historic Building,” at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the Architecture Salvage Warehouse. The presenter will be Jodi Tillman of Standard Renewable Energy, who will give tips and techniques on lowering utility bills in historic buildings. She will discuss a program for home energy audits and suggest how people who live in historic buildings can make them more energy-efficient.

Saturday, April 4: “Art Deco on the Texas Gulf Coast” at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the Architectural Salvage Warehouse. This special class is being presented by the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance’s (GHPA) Programs and Information Director David Bush (formerly the director of Public Relations at GHF) and Walking Tour Co-Chair Jim Parson, co-authors of “Houston Deco: Modernistic Architecture of the Texas Coast.” Their book focuses on Houston’s Art Deco architecture, but they will tailor the presentation to the Galveston Island stock of modernist buildings. Copies of the book will be available for sale at the event and a book signing will follow the presentation.

Saturday, April 25: “Conservation of Historic Books, Papers and Photographs” at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the Architectural Salvage Warehouse. Jodi Wright-Gidley, the Director of the Galveston County Historical Museum, will present this session and provide information on the storage and display of family documents, photographs and artifacts. She will discuss what makes documents deteriorate and ways of slowing down the process. Attendees are encouraged to bring historic photos to the class for consultation and if they wish to have a digital copy created and added to GHF’s collection.