PITTSBORO - Central Carolina Community College, in partnership with the Chatham County Historical Association, is offering a unique chance to help preserve a piece of Chatham County history and learn building techniques at the same time.

This 30-hour class (Historic Restoration: Chatham Smokehouse) will undertake the restoration of an 1860's post and beam smokehouse originally located on the site of the new Chatham County Agriculture and Conference Center. Students enrolled in this hands-on course will learn a variety of historic construction techniques utilizing both period and modern tools. Upon completion of this class, students will have the knowledge and skills needed to continue work in the field of historic restoration, construction and/or conservation.

The class will meet from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays beginning Feb. 18 and ending March 25 at the CCCC Chatham Main Campus (Sustainability Technologies Building, Room 140) in Pittsboro. Cost of the class is $125.55 and will be taught by Jeff Gannon, CCCC Green Building Instructor.

Instruction topics include Period Rough Timber Framing, Wall and Woof Design and Construction Techniques, Rough Assembly of Smokehouse Components, Siding, and Door Installation.

Class objectives are for students to learn the fundamentals of historic restoration, to use both period and modern construction tools, to gain hands-on experience with historic restoration techniques, to participate in all stages of smokehouse restoration, and to learn how to properly and safely use tools associated with historic restoration.

To register for the course, call CCCC's Student Support Center at 919-718-7500 or visit the website www.cccc.edu/ecd/find-classes.

For more information on CCCC, visit the college's website at www.cccc.edu.