After twelve years of successful operation, the Maine Masonry School is in need of its own renovations so they can educate new students in the art of renovation and historic preservation.

To accommodate these new classes the school’s facilities need upgrades. In addition, last winter was brutal on the school’s buildings and vital repairs are necessary.

With the new classes set to start this fall work needs to begin refitting the school immediately.

More about the courses that need to be saved— 

All across the country historic buildings are in need of renovation because there is a shortage of trained quality craftspeople to do the needed repairs and restoration work.

In 2016, the Maine School of Masonry started Renovation and Historic Preservation courses giving students specialized skills sets that command high earnings. This unique Renovation and Preservation program has been extremely well received and the demand for space in the classes is high.

“Historic buildings surround us in New England but most people don’t realize there is a shortage in skilled craftspeople that can renovate and preserve these majestic monuments. Each building represents an important time in our history and needs to be preserved for future generations,” said Stephen Mitchell, Maine School of Masonry founder.

“Our classes give a new generation the skills needed to keep our history alive, as well as high paying jobs. Richard Irons, of Irons Masonry, has been an advisor for our program and on site specialist. With 38 years of experience under his belt working along side him gives our students instruction they can’t get anywhere else.”

Richard was awarded the Maine Historic Preservation Award in 1998 for “his excellence in historic restoration, his craftsmanship and dedication to the preservation of Maine’s irreplaceable architectural history.”

In partnership with the owners of historic landmarks and with the state’s approval, these classes have already begun work on restoration and preservation projects at the Kennebec Arsenal, and Fort Knox.

More about the school—

The art of masonry is tragically becoming a lost skill in a time when the demand for masons is incredibly high. Since 2005 the country’s only private non-profit masonry school has been trying to change that by teaching new generations in the craftsmanship of masonry.

For over a decade, students have learned the fundamentals of laying brick and stonework with instructors who bring out the talents of individuals as they build different projects in the workshop or on location. Students become skilled craftspeople in just nine months, in a 1,200-hour certificate program and are placed in jobs every year.

Key supporters of our Historic Renovation and Preservation coursers are Richard Irons, Maine Preservation, Greater Portland Landmarks , Main Street 1 and Niemann Capital. The Maine School of Masonry is a non-profit 501(c)3 private school and helps Veterans attend the school through government programs.

The school needs immediate help with:

• Donations to help with the school’s renovations for our new classes. Their goal is $8,000.

• Materials can also be donated and are tax deductible.

Materials needed to upgrade their facilities for renovation/preservation classes:

• Insulation

• Sheet rock

• White paint

• Wooden flooring

• A new furnace or a new heating source (we’d like to use a more clean energy source)

• A mobile home to use on location. (Instructors and students will be working on site at the locations listed above. A mobile home would help the school tremendously, saving them from commuting back and forth from Avon.)

Donated materials can be dropped off at the school any time.

As the instructors and students are currently on location working on historic renovations please contact Dori at the school and arrange a time to visit them on location, so you can see first hand how important continuing these classes are for all our futures.

Maine School of Masonry, 637 Rangeley Road, Avon, ME 04966, masonryschool.org

Please send a check to the school or contribute at the school’s GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/help-masonry-school-continue-course

Thank YOU!