Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto preserves many original Mennonite farm buildings. For people who happen to be near Toronto or similar sites elsewhere, it's worth the trip just to see the timber framing. Massive hand hewn square timbers, and the timbers are often joined by joints usually seen on old furniture--all hand cut. The design probably is overkill but it sure is impressive. I imagine it would be difficult to find anybody to work with that retained the skills needed to do this type work.

Actually, we've been loosing skills for a long while now and are maybe getting to be a bit like Medieval Europe. Thirty years ago in Pennsylvania a dome on a public building sprung a leak. Nobody knew how to fix it. Somebody agreed to come out of retirement long enough to train and supervise a crew. Wonder what they'd do now? Ancient cities that were build over centuries and civilizations have disappeared within 30 years and not due to external invasions. You never know what you've lost till it's gone. Historic perspective can keep us safer than present fashion.

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