Aiming for a Better Future: Volunteers to Help Restore Shotgun Houses in Southern Illinois

Jan. 22, 2009 - PRLog -- Cairo, Illinois – Looking for a great volunteer opportunity? Join HCN's June team heading to Cairo, Illinois! Once General Grant's Civil War headquarters, Cairo was also an economic and cultural hub known for steamboats and blues musicians. In the 1960s, it saw intense civil rights activity. Its architecture reflects this storied past and includes an impressive array of shotgun houses.

This June, HCN teams up with several local partners to restore one of Cairo’s historic shotgun houses. Participants will help restore the house using a variety of preservation and carpentry skills. The project will serve as a prototype for the Cairo community, providing opportunities for public outreach and training and kicking off the first part of a regional initiative to rejuvenate this historic city.

Like many small towns, Cairo has experienced an economic downturn in the last half-century. In some areas, its historic buildings line deserted streets. To rebuild their community, various organizations have joined forces to form the Cairo VISION 20/20 Committee to reinvigorate the region. One goal is to increase the stock of affordable housing by restoring abandoned homes, many of which are eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic preservation is also a key way to increase tourism and to bolster community spirit. HCN’s shotgun project is a critical component of the affordable housing initiative.

So come join HCN’s June workshops in Cairo!  Preserve the past and build the future for this Illinois town.

For more information, visit HCN’s website, http://www.heritageconservation.net/ws-cairo.htm, or call +1 303 444 0128.




Contact:    
Judith Broeker
Heritage Conservation Network
1557 North Street, Boulder, CO 80304 USA
Phone/Fax: +1 303 444 0128
jbroeker@heritageconservation.net
www.heritageconservation.net

# # #

About HCN

Heritage Conservation Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of architectural heritage around the world. HCN's hands-on workshops support community-based preservation projects and give volunteers the opportunity to give something back by helping to protect valuable cultural treasures. To learn more about HCN’s international workshops, visit http://www.heritageconservation.net.