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Spring 2000 VMI Timber Framing Project Photos by Guild Member Paul Magann What is becoming an annual tradition for Guild volunteers and the cadets at Virginia Military Institute is a spring timber framing project headed up by Guild Director and VMI Col. Grigg Mullen. This year's Spring FTX at VMI in Lexington, Virginia, had the cadets cutting a new structure to cover the rifle range at the local Boy Scout camp. The Boy Scouts prepared the foundation, and the cadets cut the structure at Grigg's house on Saturday, April 1 to Monday, April 3. The raising was held Tuesday, April 4, at Camp Shenandoah, about 40 miles north of Lexington. A bevy of Guild helpers were welcomed with open arms, fresh coffee, and plenty of Mess Hall food, all covered in gravy, no doubt. For those of you who missed working with enthusiastic short-haired young people in yellow T-shirts, here are some photos of the activities emailed to us by Paul Magann. VMI cadets learn how to cut mortise and tenon joinery using traditional hand tools and some power tools. Bottom right: Col. Mullen (front left) and helpers carry a timber to the raising. The raising begins. There are 7 bents, and the frame is a combination of red and white oak. Estimated size of the structure is 12' x 60'. Darkness descends as cadets continue the raising. Above, Andy Smith wrestles a timber into place. At right: The final step marking a successful raising. Above and below: The Boy Scout rifle range shelter as of June 2000, awaiting its roof.