2003 Rendezvous

Phelps Barn Restoration & Rendezvous
Elmwood, Illinois
June 15-28, 2003

Day 1 Report

After 1,135 miles of travel mostly in the rain, the beginnings of the Prarie finally opened up, as did the sky. We dribbled and dripped into Elmwood, Illinois, in the warm evening of Sunday, June 15th for a get-organized meeting in the basement of the senior home. Iced-tea and hospitality were abundant. The move to preserve this barn began with one woman in 1988, and she (who will be 90 soon) was very glad to see us!

This project is hosted Rick Collins and his staff at Trillium Dell, which appears to have limitless supplies of staging, water, plank, tractors, cords and the other tools of renovation and restoration. We have people on site so far from seven states and two provinces and one foreign land, with the promise of more workers on the way tonight.

Most people are camping on the site (about a mile south of town). Allan Peoples has rigged up a handy shower, with hot water. Some are billeted with local hosts. There was a terrific band concert on the common as our meeting broke. It was picture perfect in all respects. There is still time for you to join us if you would like.

Day 2 Report

Joe Miller (IN and WY) has spent a delighful day in the underpinings of the barn with cribbing and jacks, while his companions have been working overhead showering him with debris. What's left of the barn now looks like it has taken a deep breath; standing much taller and straighter, and revealing more rotten and broken parts for our amusement.

We are being treated to more perfect weather here in the heart of America, and we've got a great crew.

Welcoming sky.	Band concert on the common.	A view of the Elmwood skyline.
First look at the frame.	Joe Miller	Neville Bodsworth
Jacking in a new wall.	Foot Tenon at base of new partition	Allan Peoples
Joel's ride	Illinois tradition of Stump-kin burning at the camp site for the crew.	Stump and carving courtesy of Carl Reinking. Photos by Chris Koehn
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