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We had an interesting week at the Shaker Village. Friday we had a flood that was so severe it washed out two of the major roads, flooded the ponds over their banks, put about 3 to 4 feet of water in the basement of the brethren's shop, and caused one of the major aqueducts to fail, shooting water throughout the site and doing considerable damage. It's a testament that even though these water system components exist after 150+ years, disturbances at the top of the watershed may compromise the entire system.

On the 22nd and 23rd of July all of us here were given the opportunity to have a class on paint analysis. The class was wonderful. We were able to take actual paint samples of the wood all around the church for the following day in the lab. I worked with Ryan up in the balcony. Our job was really great because we took paint samples before and after a “seam” in the wood.

I was invited to the <a href="http://www.dcp.ufl.edu/hp/PINantucket/PIN/SummerProgram.asp">Preservation Institute: Nantucket’s summer program</a> in early July as one of several visiting speakers. I gave a presentation on some of WMF’s projects, entitled “Highlights of South American World Heritage Sites.

Our communications team organized a small press event at the Dutch Reformed Church for this past Wednesday. Ben Haley (Communications Assistant) and I caught the 7:16 a.m. train to Garrison, where Holly Evarts (Director of Communications) picked us up and drove us to Newburgh.