Through the support of a Historic Preservation Fund Grant from the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office, Preservation Delaware, Inc. has developed a plan to launch a training program in the preservation trades for vocational-technical schools throughout Delaware. The focus of the plan has been a case study for introducing preservation masonry training at the POLYTECH High School in Woodside, Delaware.

For several years, preservationists, architects, and craftspeople have bemoaned the lack of skilled workers capable of completing preservation and rehabilitating projects in Delaware. With the establishment of a new state historic rehabilitation tax credit and a growing awareness in preservation nationally, architects, contractors, and other preservationists anticipate that the demand for craftspeople with knowledge of historic building materials and methods will continue to rise.

In the Summer of 2001, PDI worked with representatives of the Wilmington Job Corps Center to develop a comprehensive preservation trades program that will be integrated within their existing building technology curriculum - the Facilities Maintenance Program—once the new center opens. With this framework established, PDI was equipped with the knowledge and material to venture to the next phase of the project - bringing preservation trades to vocational-technical schools statewide. By diffusing the training to vocational programs statewide, PDI will assist in preparing a ready pool of local tradespeople, trained with the technical knowledge and skills to complete historic preservation and rehabilitation projects, while protecting Delaware's historic architecture from inappropriate maintenance and repair.

The first phase of training in vocational-technical schools will take place in the masonry department of POLYTECH High School. For the past several months POLYTECH masonry instructor Tom Pleasanton has worked extensively with PDI and its Preservation Trades Steering Committee, who have developed a plan for integrating preservation into the current masonry curriculum. The grant from the SHPO also supported the development of a preservation resource library for the masonry department at the school. Currently, members of the committee are working to find off campus projects involving historic buildings for Pleasanton's students to work on—either in an individual apprenticeship position or as a class project.

PDI and the POLYTECH masonry department have recognized that the use of improper materials and maintenance or repair methods may result in irreversible damage to historic masonry buildings and are taking steps to training for the next generation of individuals who will work on Delaware's historic masonry buildings. Pleasanton's students will receive training in masonry deterioration and the appropriate techniques of masonry repair. The program will be interdisciplinary in that it will provide the practical application of many skills taught in math, science, and history courses. Masons who currently work with historic properties may serve as guest instructors in the future.

POLYTECH is also interested in expanding training in historic preservation in their Building Construction program at both the high school and adult education level. PDI is particularly excited about expanding the program into their adult education program, because this will provide opportunities for training practicing contractors to receive training in preservation techniques. PDI is grateful for POLYTECH’s enthusiasm for training in historic materials and maintenance. They have joined PDI in recognizing that many of the specialized skills and techniques that master craftsmen originally used may be lost if it were not for training programs such as these that help preserve such valuable skills.