Canaan Building Construction and Restoration Carpentry

03/31/2023

Building Construction & Restoration Carpentry Students Working on Historic Projects in the Community

03/12/2023

On Friday, Canaan CTE Students went and visited Tivoly in Derby Line, Vermont.

A big “thank you” to the Tivoly team from the staff/students at Canaan School for the tour, information and drill bit sets!

12/15/2022

Holiday Gathering tomorrow, December 16th at the Bridge Street Project.

Come see our progress 12-2

07/21/2022

Canaan Memorial High School was constructed in 1946 with a clock tower but no clock. Somewhere around 1997 Building Trade Student, Vincent Marquis installed a clock as his Senior Project. Vincent is now a Master Electrician & General Manager at IKE Electric, Inc. This summer former Building Trade student and owner of Robert Morgan Steeple & Building Restoration, Mike Duke is restoring the clock & tower. Mike is doing this with the help of his employee Anthony Nite who is also a Building Trades graduate. Many generations of successful Building Trade Students.
....Proud Instructor, Eugene Reid.

06/10/2022

Farewell to our Seniors! Congratulations to our Building Trades Seniors. Best of luck in your futures.

04/27/2022

Congratulations Karsen. North Woods Career Center Student of the year. Making Building Trades Proud.

CLASS OF 2022 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:
When you hear the phrase “business savvy” uttered in the hallways of Canaan Schools, chances are that someone is talking about Karsen Sweatt. In his four years at Canaan Memorial High School, Karsen has demonstrated time and time again that he understands exactly what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur, inside and outside the classroom.

He is this year’s recipient of the CTE Student of the Year Award, an accomplishment that he received for his dedication in the Building Construction & Restoration Carpentry program. In order to win this prestigious award, a person must meet the following criteria: must be a self-starter, must complete tasks without supervision, shows gratitude towards all, is humble, shares knowledge/ideas/responsibility, and is an all-around good person. Karsen exemplifies the aforementioned traits. For instance, he has proven that he is a self-starter by opening his own business, No Sweatt Mowing, which has developed into a lucrative company. Additionally, all of his teachers agree that Karsen has a strong work ethic as shown by his completion of an astounding seven Industry Recognized Credentials, including OSHA 10 Certified, GOL Chainsaw Safety and Tree Felling Technique Certified, First Aid/CPR/AED Certified, Powder Actuated Tool Certified, Construction Flagging Certified, NCCER Core Certified, and Introduction to Welding through White Mountains Community College. Likewise, even though he has earned numerous accolades, Karsen’s humble personality makes him reluctant to tout his own accomplishments. In fact, when Karsen was asked about his favorite school memory, instead of listing one of his many achievements, he selected the trip to Indianapolis to compete at the National FFA Convention with advisor Chris Masson and his classmates.

When he’s not in school or at work, Karsen can be found participating in outdoor activities, such as four-wheeling, snowmobiling and hunting. Karsen’s future plans include attending the Southeast Lineman Training Center, which is a premier school for apprentice line worker training located in Georgia.

We wish Karsen Sweatt the best of luck as he brings his entrepreneurial spirit and technical skills to Georgia and beyond. Congratulations, again, on earning this year’s CTE Student of the Year Award! You “built” an incredible resume throughout your four years at Canaan Schools, and we couldn’t be prouder of you!

05/14/2021

Eugene Reid was Named Preservation Outstanding Leader during a special award ceremony on May 12th.

Eugene Reid, Canaan, VT/Colebrook, NH for Outstanding Leadership in Preservation Education

The Building Construction & Restoration Carpentry program at Canaan High School, run by Eugene Reid, has provided three generations of Vermont and New Hampshire high school students with hands-on training and experience restoring old buildings, and contributed to saving and stewarding several significant properties in the area.
Reid has brought his passion for old buildings into the curriculum of construction training that the high school offers, and has given his students unique opportunities to help restore the beauty of old homes and special places in northern Vermont and New Hampshire.

He sees work on old buildings – not the norm in high school trades programs – as practical training, a contribution to preserving the character of the community and a way to develop his students’ problem-solving skills. Eugene’s students are on ladders, doing roofing, electrical, plumbing, and welding, and are using power equipment.

Over the last three decades, his team of advisors and students has helped repair and rehab several different structures in the area, including the historic house museum at the Poore Family Farm in Stewartstown. Going beyond the curriculum, Reid has created an innovative old house revolving fund that enables the program to buy, fix up, and sell buildings, and use the proceeds for the next purchase.

They are now working on Colebrook’s c. 1860 Judge Ripley House, a property that had been considered for demolition. Reid continues to see increased enrollment in every class he offers, and recently extended his program to include middle school kids.

Beyond school and keeping up with an expanding list of certifications, Eugene is an integral part of the communities in Essex County, VT and Coos County, NH. A few of his many commitments over the years include 12 years on the Canaan selectboard, nearly 20 years on his district’s state environmental commission, bus driver, and driver education provider.

According to local observers, Eugene has adapted exceptionally well to the changing demands of teaching over the last several years. And he sees potential in every student and adapts to their way of learning. His students learn by seeing and doing.

Thank you Eugene Reid for your over-and-above commitment and creativity in changing the lives of kids, reviving special places and inspiring others.

Congratulations Eugene Reid!!

11/09/2020

22 Bridge Street property in Colebrook has been selected as "Seven to Save". Formal announcement of recipients was made on Tuesday, October 20th

The Seven to Save Program is not an “endangered property” list as other organizations use, but rather a tool for advocacy, awareness, and to assist in fundraising. Preservation Trust thought that it would be a good boost to the property visibility.

02/27/2020

Bridge street Project

02/27/2020

Carr Project

11/08/2019

Continued work on Carr Project. Installing windows and rough out electrical

01/31/2019

Governor visits our current restoration project. Our Fire/EMS students on hand for the visit.