Hands On: The PHMC Preservation Trades Apprenticeship Program

    07.10.18 | TSCT News

     Lancaster, PA – Three Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology students participated in the Preservation Trades Apprenticeship Program thanks to the Ddora Foundation.

    Summer is officially here and these Stevensonians are spending it learning. 

    Three students from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology are part of the PHMC apprenticeship program:

    left to right: Dylan Shanta '12, Donte Rosa '19 and Wade Regnell '19
    left to right: Dylan Shanta '12, Donte Rosa '19 and Wade Regnell '19 (missing: Crystal Krout)

    • Crystal Krout ‘19 – MFWT (Interning at Landis Valley Museum and Railroad Museum)
    • Donte Rosa ’19 – RMDL (Interning at Fairmount Park)
    • Wade Regnell ’19 – CARP (Interning at Daniel Boone Homestead)

    The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) sponsored its 13th annual summer apprenticeship program to introduce students and recent graduates of post-secondary trade schools, technical colleges and other training programs and others with building trades experience, to the preservation and traditional building trades needed to preserve Pennsylvania's historic places.

    Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology awards the Ddora Foundation’s annual Preservation Trades Summer Apprenticeships to its continuing students and recent graduates.


    Dylan Shanta '12 Cabinetmaking & Wood Technology

    Dylan Shanta ’12 Cabinetmaking & Wood Technology who interned through the Ddora Foundation working on Historic Building Restorations currently works as a Preservation Construction Specialist at the Daniel Boone Homestead.

    "It was a great summer opportunity where I got to work in a peaceful setting at the Daniel Boone Homestead, work with new modern tools as well as some old school hand tools and got to work on/ learn about some great historical properties up close. " says Dylan.

    The program is similar now but with some new improvements, the Preservation Field Services (PFS) is now a full-time team with the main objective of restoration and preservation construction of all of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) sites. In the past few years, they have made improvements to make everything more efficient and effective at their work.  From outfitting a truck and trailer so they can be ready to work at any site with the proper tools they need, to making updates on to the shop space for better work & safety, to keeping accurate digital photos and documents of every project.  

    The apprenticeships included a free training program with an introductory one-day seminar in historic preservation and two days of hands-on training by master craftsmen in the various preservation and traditional trade skills.

     

    The students are able to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom into the real world and building upon their foundation. These apprentices learned about historic preservation and the traditional trades through fieldwork, shop work, research and other project work. PHMC maintains a number of historic buildings at historic sites and museums throughout Pennsylvania.  The apprentices engaged in project work at several sites. 

    "The summer here can give you a taste of something a little more niche and specialized than you may be used to.  But just like anything else bring a good attitude, show up on time, ask questions/ be ready to learn, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and use common sense. " says Dylan

     Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is consistently ranked as Pennsylvania’s best technical college and awards associate degrees in 22 high-demand, skilled occupations. A full listing of programs is available at www.StevensCollege.edu.

    For more information, contact