A weathered window with a stone lintel is set against a textured brick wall.

Riverbend Renewal

LXCL:Includes four hours of instruction, hands-on learning, workshop materials, refreshments, and a guided tour.

Workshop Registration

LXCL:Reduced price for high school, college and trade school students.

Student Registration

The problem with historic wood windows isn&rsquo;t that they can&rsquo;t be repaired. It&rsquo;s that fewer people know how. For generations, craftspeople knew how to build, repair, and maintain the homes in their communities. As building practices and materials changed, much of that knowledge stopped being passed down.Riverbend Renewal wants to help bring it back. Join us for a hands-on workshop with local craftsman Eric LaVelle focused on the repair and restoration of historic wood windows. We&rsquo;ll bust a few myths, explore how these windows were originally built, and learn practical techniques for repairing and preserving them rather than replacing them. Eric is a self-taught carpenter specializing in historic building techniques. For more than a decade, he has honed his knowledge of how old houses were constructed and the traditional methods used to restore them. He also collects and maintains antique woodworking machinery, using historic equipment to replicate architectural details that can be difficult to reproduce today. Eric works alongside his daughter, Claire, who grew up immersed in the craft. Together, their work has ranged from modest historic homes to some of the area&rsquo;s most notable properties, including McPike Mansion and the Artz House.Riverbend Renewal founders Yvette and James Paris have partnered with Eric and Claire on the restoration of their own historic Bruch-Guertler House in Alton, giving us a firsthand appreciation for their craftsmanship, knowledge, and commitment to preserving old buildings the right way. And that&rsquo;s the kind of knowledge we want to pass on. Whether you own an old house, enjoy working with your hands, are interested in the historic trades, or simply want to learn more about how these buildings were made, this workshop is for you. No previous restoration experience is required. At the heart of Riverbend Renewal is a belief that preservation is about more than saving buildings. We need to preserve the knowledge, teach the skills, and cultivate the skilled tradespeople who can care for these places for generations to come. Registration is limited to 15 participants &mdash; reserve your spot today!

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 196); overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you for registering for our event and supporting our cause. Your registration greatly helps our mission. 🚀 If you would like to contribute further, contact us to become a volunteer, or talk to your friends about our cause! Yvette Parisriverbendrenewal@outlook.com

The problem with historic wood windows isn’t that they can’t be repaired. It’s that fewer people know how. For generations, craftspeople knew how to build, repair, and maintain the homes in their communities. As building practices and materials changed, much of that knowledge stopped being passed down.Riverbend Renewal wants to help bring it back. Join us for a hands-on workshop with local craftsman Eric LaVelle focused on the repair and restoration of historic wood windows. We’ll bust a few myths, explore how these windows were originally built, and learn practical techniques for repairing and preserving them rather than replacing them. Eric is a self-taught carpenter specializing in historic building techniques. For more than a decade, he has honed his knowledge of how old houses were constructed and the traditional methods used to restore them. He also collects and maintains antique woodworking machinery, using historic equipment to replicate architectural details that can be difficult to reproduce today. Eric works alongside his daughter, Claire, who grew up immersed in the craft. Together, their work has ranged from modest historic homes to some of the area’s most notable properties, including McPike Mansion and the Artz House.Riverbend Renewal founders Yvette and James Paris have partnered with Eric and Claire on the restoration of their own historic Bruch-Guertler House in Alton, giving us a firsthand appreciation for their craftsmanship, knowledge, and commitment to preserving old buildings the right way. And that’s the kind of knowledge we want to pass on. Whether you own an old house, enjoy working with your hands, are interested in the historic trades, or simply want to learn more about how these buildings were made, this workshop is for you. No previous restoration experience is required. At the heart of Riverbend Renewal is a belief that preservation is about more than saving buildings. We need to preserve the knowledge, teach the skills, and cultivate the skilled tradespeople who can care for these places for generations to come. Registration is limited to 15 participants — reserve your spot today!

Riverbend Renewal

Window Restoration Workshop

101 Blair Ave

Workshop Registration

$95

Student Registration

$45

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