Loving Your Old House

General Information 

This educational program will take place on Tuesday evenings in March from 6:30-8:30 PM each week at an HMI property. Is your historic home begging for some TLC? Want to learn the secrets to preserving its unique character for generations to come? Then look no further than Historic Madison, Inc.’s “Loving Your Old House” program! Learn how to preserve and protect your old home from the experts who do the work in our community.

This exciting four-session educational program equips homeowners with the knowledge and skills to care for their historic treasures. Led by experts who work directly on historic preservation, the program delves into essential topics like:

• Thermally modified lumber: Discover the benefits of this sustainable material for your historic home.
• Storm windows: Learn how to improve energy efficiency while maintaining your home’s historic charm.
• The hierarchy of space: Understand the importance of historic floor plans and how to adapt them for modern living.
• Paint and color types: Explore paint options that complement your home’s historic style and neighborhood.

Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to invest in your historic home’s future. We look forward to welcoming homeowners of all experience levels, DIY enthusiasts, contractors, students, and anyone passionate about historic preservation!

Participants will have time with each of the session experts to learn how to care for the different parts of their home. This program is a great opportunity for anyone interested in preserving an old home for future generations inside and out. We look forward to seeing homeowners (both Madisionians and beyond), DIYers, contractors, students, historic preservationists, and community representatives at “Loving Your Old House.”

This program is generously sponsored by the Virginia Kerst donor-advised fund.

Sessions (Each Session is Independent and No Previous Attendance is Required)

March 4th - Thermally Modified Lumber with J.R Phillips

March 11th - Storm Windows with Seth Elder

March 18th - The Hierarchy of Space with Benjamin L. Ross

March 25th - Paint and Color Types with David Cart

Ticket Information

Registration is required for all sessions. Enrollment is limited to 15 attendees per session. Please select if you are an HMI member or non-member. HMI members receive a discount. There is an additional discount of $5 a session if you participate in more than one session. Please contact Jessica Spiess at Historic Madison, Inc. at 812-265-2967 or [email protected] if you have any questions.

Session Price for One Session
$30 - Non-Members
$25 - Members

Session price for two or more sessions:
$25 per session - Non-members
$20 per session - HMI members

Session Details

The first session on March 4 will feature local expert and business owner, J.R. Phillips, and be held at the Schroeder Saddletree Factory. J.R. was born and raised in Jefferson County, Indiana where he started working in the family sawmill and lumber business. He is the third generation to run Phillips Lumber and Millwork since it began in 1963. The mill is the oldest still operating in Jefferson County. The plans are for the business to continue with the next generation in the years to come. J.R. will be focusing on thermally modified lumber products their uses, advantages, and disadvantages. Multiple thermally modified products have already been incorporated into the maintenance and care of the Schroeder Saddletree Factory and will be highlighted as part of the program as well.

The second session on March 11 will feature Seth Elder and focus on storm windows. Seth attended Ball State's Historic Preservation program, during which time he interned in Madison with HMI and Jack Patchin's historic window restoration business. After a few years with Indiana Landmarks as the Director of the Southeast Field Office and a stint as Town Manager, Seth decided to get out from behind a desk and restore windows full-time with his business Elder Restoration. He has completed projects for various clients, from homeowners to historic churches to state nonprofit and museum groups. This session will take place at the HMI Office - Talbott-Hyatt House.

The third session on March 18 will feature Benjamin L. Ross from Ratio Architects in Indianapolis who will speak about the hierarchy of space in historic buildings. Ben has been entrusted with analyzing, interpreting, and planning for the future of some of the most important historic sites in the United States, including the homes of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as Madison’s Shrewsbury-Windle and Sullivan Houses. A Lafayette native, Ben received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture—with a focus on historic preservation and sustainable design—from Ball State University. He worked for the Wabash Valley Trust for Historic Preservation in college and has been a historic preservation specialist with RATIO Architects in Indianapolis for the past 15 years. Ben specializes in combining research with analysis of the physical fabric of historic buildings to reveal their history and evolution. This session will take place at the Shrewsbury-Windle House.

The final session on March 25 will feature HMI’s Director of Preservation & Maintenance, David Cart, and focus on paint colors and types of paint for both interior and exterior uses. David began his career in 1987 as Lead Historic Interpreter at the J.F.D. Lanier State Historic Site. As curator, he created a coalition of several groups that led to the complete restoration of the Lanier Mansion and garden. He received The American Association of Museums award for professional excellence. David has also worked on several National Landmark properties, private homes, and churches. Some of these projects have received state and national awards and have been featured in national publications such as Victorian Homes magazine. As the Director of Preservation and Maintenance, he is responsible for the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of 17 historic buildings, six gardens, and various artifacts. This session will take place at the HMI Office - Talbott-Hyatt House.