Old House Network

Old House Expo - More Information

The Old House Network is a nonprofit educational gathering of old house lovers. We teach people how to care for houses built before nineteen fifty by hosting workshops and seminars. The workshops and seminars are free, (though we do ask for five dollars to pay for lunch during the workshops).

Old houses are built out of different materials and put together differently than modern houses. We teach people about materials and techniques. We share the names of contractors experienced in old house repair and restoration. We give workshops so folks can get real hands on experience. We educate about tools, methods and at the last, when to call in the professionals. Our seminars cover everything from ice dams to asbestos abatement. We teach folks who can't afford to hire a contractor and those of us who just want to do it ourselves.

One way we express our love of old houses is by working on them. The Old House Network throws the Great Unveiling every other spring. Our latest Unveiling house is at 914 S. Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan. In May of 2006 a group of old house lovers, historic preservationists, neighborhood association members, local businesses and property owners came together to strip the siding off of one of Westnedge Avenues most distinctive houses. We sponsor the Great Unveiling to help the old house owners, the neighborhood, and the streetscape of the city of Kalamazoo. We also get to start the facelift of a wonderful old house. Sometimes the difference in labor costs can make the decision between restoration and vinyl siding. The OHN uses the Great Unveiling to help old house lovers get past that first expensive hurdle to exterior restoration, getting the siding off the house. You might be surprised at how many people enjoy taking pry bars to old dilapidated siding. Our volunteers love this event. Please drive by the Westnedge house and see how magnificent it looks now.

We have been working with the support of grants from the Kalamazoo Foundation and the City of Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission. We want to be self supporting. As much as we are grateful for the grants that made our work possible, in today's economy earning your own money just makes sense. We are launching two fund raising projects.

The first is the Old House EXPO. Located at the Kalamazoo Fairgrounds on the third Friday and Saturday in January, we hold seminars, show off local restoration experts, do hands on training and provide vendor halls full of cool stuff! We are very excited this year to offer a free day long lead safe work practices work shop on January 19th. Click here to learn more about this exciting opportunity. The EXPO has food, a color the old house contest for the kids and door prizes. Some of our topics in 2008 will be Greening your Old House, Chicago's Bungalows, Porch Construction Basics, Historic Gardens and much, much more. There is a five dollar entrance fee for this event on Saturday, Friday will be all day workshops, some are free, and some are not. Contact the OHN for details.

The second fund raiser is a line of T shirts with our logo house, and other old building themes. Click here for more information.

Pat B. McCarthy
Director, Old House Network