Discovering New England Stone Walls

Join library staff as we welcome Kevin Gardner on Saturday, October 11th! Kevin’s informal talk will touch on the history, technique, stylistic development, and aesthetics of stone walls, as covered in his book The Granite Kiss. He will explain how and why New England came to acquire its thousands of miles of stone walls, the ways in which stone walls and other dry stone structures were built, how their styles emerged and changed over time, and the significance to the famous New England landscape all while building his own mini wall in front of attendees.

Other topics may include: differences in the approach between historical and contemporary wall-builders; restoration tips and techniques; and information about the design, acquisition of materials, preservation, and analysis of stone walls.

There will be a question-and-answer session, during which listeners are encouraged to bring up specific problems or projects with their own properties.