Terra cotta history, roof tiles topic of upcoming free workshop

ALFRED, NY – A workshop focused on the care and maintenance of terra cotta roof tiles will be held on Thursday, Sept. 15, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Alfred Village Hall.

The lasting impact of the historic terra cotta industry in Alfred, NY is most visible in the iconic Celadon Company office building on Main Street and the tile roofs scattered throughout the village and surrounding towns. Together they tell a story and create a beautiful visual scene. The industry also spurred the placement of the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.

While terra cotta tile roofs last over a century, they can develop problems without ongoing maintenance and care. The Sept. 15 workshop, which is free and open to the public, will discuss the basics of terra cotta history, the Alfred historic district, and ideas on using terra cotta as a theme for the village. The central portion of the workshop will be a presentation by an expert terra cotta tile roofer who will explain the steps for inspecting, maintaining, repairing, and replacing tile roofs. He will also discuss some pitfalls to be aware of when insuring a tile roof.

The goal of the workshop is to share information on terra cotta tiles and to help homeowners gain insight on how to better manage their roofs. The public is invited to attend and light refreshments will be served. Informational displays will also be available.

The event is sponsored by the Alfred 21st Century Group, the Village of Alfred, the Baker’s Bridge Historical Association, the Alfred University Archives, and the Western New York chapter of the American Ceramic Society.

Please email any questions and RSVPs (preferred but not required).