The Stone Trust PA
Site champions Kim and Jerry Coggin began building the site as a means for learning the art and craft of dry stone walling. That direction very quickly changed as they discovered the many varied aspects that “walling” can offer. What started as a way to learn has developed into an idea—a dream—to create a place that offers a year-round opportunity for those who want to learn, who may have a project in mind, who simply need a respite from the daily grind of life, and for anyone who would benefit from physical activity in the wintertime. Winter walling for people subject to Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) means they can come in out of the cold to spend time with like-minded folks learning this traditional craft. To those ends we strive to create and maintain our facility for the community at large.
The training site @ South Fork
The training facility at South Fork is situated on 20 acres which were once a family farm that tended various livestock and crops. The stone of construction at the site is a mixture of surface fieldstone, quarried sandstone, and some limestone. The material has been sourced locally from the Laurel Highlands, Scranton and Grampian, PA, and as far away as Maryland and Massachusetts. There are currently over 250 lineal feet of walls on site. The walls represent workshop and exemplars consisting of free standing, retaining, steps, veneer etc., with plans to expand further and to create a “feature park” where level three and four and other advanced features will be located. At this facility we teach the age-old craft of dry stone construction using the curriculum, and under the guidance of The Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain and The Stone Trust.
Key reason to take a workshop at this site:
-This is the only site in North America that offers indoor classes year round.
-When you become our students you are a student for life. We are invested in your success.
-Work with local stone you are familiar with and can easily source.
-Closest training to Pittsburgh, and major points in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic
About the Johnstown area
Johnstown PA has a rich and diverse history spanning the eras of early American migration and settlement, through the iron, coal and steel periods, through to modern defense industrialization. The nickname “Flood City” is derived from the three widely known catastrophic floods of 1889, 1936, and 1977. There are abundant camping and outdoor recreational opportunities and our proximity to Pittsburgh allows quick access to visit attractions such as:
The Andy Warhol Museum
The Carnegie Museums of Art, Natural History and Science
The Phipps Conservatory
Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins games
Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium
PIT International Airport
Lodging
Holiday Inn Johnstown-Downtown
Econo Lodge Johnstown Downtown
Super 8 by Windham Johnstown
Mirror Lake Campground
Dillweed Bed & Breakfast
Dining
The Phoenix Tavern
Asiago’s Tuscan Italian
The Boulevard Grill
Location
459 Mt. Hope Road, South Fork, Pennsylvania, 15956