FAIRBURY, Neb. — In a quiet corner of Southeast Nebraska, a historic limestone house built in 1874 became the backdrop for a powerful lesson in building preservation — one that emphasized the time-tested wisdom of traditional materials over modern convenience.

Led by Nigel Copsey, a veteran stonemason and architectural conservator from England, a group of masons, architects, conservators, and builders gathered for a two-day workshop on traditional restoration techniques. Attendees traveled from Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas to learn how to properly care for historic structures by using the same kinds of materials and methods that were originally employed over a century ago.

“This is the perfect place, because you can teach this sort of thing and you just do a bit of wall and at the end of the workshop the wall gets taken down. Here, they know they’re making a contribution to the building that will last, it’s not just going to be taken out again at the end of the day, it’s there, and they’ve made a contribution to it. And that, to me, enhances the learning experience,” said Copsey.

Traditional Skills, Modern Relevance

On Monday, the workshop began with a lecture held in the Burkley Family Center inside the historic Heartland Bank building in Fairbury’s downtown square. The next day, the group moved to the outskirts of town to visit an old lime kiln and put theory into practice — mixing lime and sand, adding water, and slaking the mixture at temperatures up to 220 degrees Fahrenheit to create traditional lime plaster.

The process, known as slaking, allows the lime to react with water and sand to form a usable mortar or plaster that is breathable and durable — ideal for older buildings that shift and settle over time.

Preserving the Past, Brick by Brick

With trowels in hand and mortar at the ready, the group began repointing the weathered joints of the historic house’s limestone walls — a method that not only restores structural integrity but helps retain its historic character. Unlike cement, which can trap moisture and cause long-term damage in historic buildings, lime mortars allow the structure to "breathe" and endure.

“We’ve had to rediscover lime work, in many ways, and we’ve made mistakes over the last 50 years in Europe and other places – but this material takes us closer than we’ve ever been to getting it right. Because we’re processing and using the same ingredients, the lime in exactly the same form that they, typically, used in the original construction, and we’re processing it in exactly the same way, and mixing it in an aggregate proportion that they did historically, and so hopefully that means what we do can be as successful as what they did was,” Copsey explained.

A Deep Connection to the House and Its Legacy

Nigel Copsey is no stranger to Fairbury. Nearly 20 years ago, he worked on the restoration of the Jefferson County courthouse downtown. It was during that visit that he first encountered the limestone house — a structure he has never forgotten.

“I’ve known this house 20 years,” Copsey said Tuesday. “I loved this place the first time I saw it. Being British, it looks like a British house in many ways. It could be anywhere in England – but it’s American, and that adds to its appeal.”

Last year, the house celebrated its 150th birthday. The workshop not only marked a continuation of its preservation but also underscored the importance of using authentic, original materials that match the structure’s era. By doing so, the building gains both longevity and historical authenticity.

A Broader Movement Toward Traditional Restoration

Workshops like the one in Fairbury are part of a growing effort to educate American builders and preservationists on the value of traditional methods. Copsey and others argue that widespread reliance on modern materials like Portland cement in historic renovations often does more harm than good — potentially accelerating deterioration rather than preventing it.

Fairbury's limestone house, with its enduring character and now stronger joints, serves as a living classroom. For the participants, it offered more than a technical skill — it provided a deeper appreciation for the historical and cultural value embedded in older buildings.

And for future generations of builders, architects, and preservationists, it’s a reminder that sometimes the best way forward is by looking back.

Originally reported by Timothy Hackett in News Channel Nebraska.