Saline Poor House, IL 2026

Preservation meets social welfare history at this Southern Illinois volunteer opportunity.

PROJECT PARTNER: Saline County

SESSION DATES: April 19-24, April 26 – May 1, May 3-8, May 10-15, and May 17-22

CAPACITY PER SESSION: 7 Volunteers + 1 Kitchen Helper (Sessions 1 and 2)

6 Volunteers + No Kitchen Helper (Sessions 3,4, and 5)

SCOPE OF WORK:

HistoriCorps is committed to educating and training volunteers in preservation skills, with an overarching mission of inspiring a preservation ethic in all those involved. Learning and working alongside expert HistoriCorps field staff and other volunteers while applying the traditional skills necessary to restore the Saline Poor House, you will assist to:

North Porch

• Remove, inspect, and repair porch framing to strengthen and stabilize internal porch support.
• Reinstall porch flooring to strengthen floor system.
• Rebuild porch columns to support floor system.
• Recreate original historic profile of the rails by rebuilding missing elements.
• Replace missing lattice to enhance the structure’s decorative elements.
• Clean vines off the building to beautify the exterior.
• Prime and paint all bare wood and repaired sections to create visual appeal.

South Porch

• Paint porch to increase curbside appeal.

House

• Rehabilitate windows, trim, and screens to enhance the exterior façade.
• Prime and paint areas that need touch-up to enhance previous repairs.
• Enhance screens as needed.
• Reset/repoint failing brick to stabilize brick exterior.
• Repair soffits to increase ventilation, protect rafters from weather elements, and increase aesthetic value.
• Paint soffits to increase aesthetic value.
• Salvage damaged areas and clean bricks.

Please note: Tasks vary by day and by week, depending on a variety of factors including: weather, project priorities, previous groups’ work, and more. Though it is likely you will get to learn and practice most or all of the above tasks, it is not guaranteed. The higher percentage of the scope a particular task is, the more likely you will get to practice it.

Click here for more information and registration!