Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 10 · column 5 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
Students
From Page A1
13 days of school left to finish making the signs.
The team Schlosser put together for the project includes students Raymond Furr, Tom Nelson Jenkins, Meagan Elaine Smith, Howie Clark, and Jamie Dwyer.
Gary Schwartz, owner of Heritage House Bed and Breakfast, is overseeing the project, and lending his knowledge to the team.
The existing signs were made about 20 years ago by students interning under local craftsman and furniture maker Peter Kramer. While the signs have been a great asset to the community, they have begun to deteriorate.
At a Town Council meeting last year, the town discussed replacing the signs with metal ones because they are much less expensive but decided against it.
As Washington Mayor Gene Leggett said in a recent interview, “The wooden signs are a very distinct thing. They retain the flavor of the town and preserve its historic nature better than plain old metal.”
Council member Claudia Mitchell, in agreement and determined to find a better solution, contacted Gary Schwartz. Schwartz owned a sign-making company in Richmond for 10 years. He estimated that the cost of having a professional hand make each one would be $300 per sign. Mitchell then checked with Rappahannock High School’s Schlosser who agreed to help the town, asking only $50 per sign.
The students’ assignment is to make the signs look as close as possible to the originals. To do so, students use two pieces of cedar, making the signs sturdy. On a computer, a stencil is made to ensure precision when making the letters. A power-carving tool is used to carve the letters and the border. They are then handpainted with two coats of paint. The second coat of paint, supplied by VDOT, contains tiny glass particles £o make signs visible with headights at night.
The class has had to overcome some obstacles.
After several methods were tried, Kramer was contacted by Schlosser for advice on how to conquer the difficult task of carving the letters.
The team has enjoyed working on the project.
“Kids can give to the community while also getting something out of it. They can say ‘Hey, I made Wheeler Street,’” said Schlosser.
Schlosser predicts that the new signs will last at least another 20 years.
Who knows?
Perhaps the class of 2024 will be recreating these quaint street signs of Little Washington.
Correction
A May 27 article on the
landscaping of the
Ratwoods garbage and
recycling transfer facility
incorrectly stated the
location of River Hill
Farm nursery. It is
located in Amissville.
94.4%