DANVERS - The Old House Society wants to make it easier for people to live in old houses. That's why the not-for-profit organization is tweaking its mission and has opened its Danvers Restoration Center to the public each Saturday.

This spring, organizers plan to have experienced contractors offer workshops to show old-house owners such things as how to repair double-hung windows, locks, plaster walls and ceilings, and wood floors.

"A lot of time, people don't want to get rid of something but get frustrated because they don't know how to repair it," said Mark Edwards, executive director of the Old House Society. "People have to have a place that's convenient for them to learn."

The Old House Society will continue to sell salvaged and recycled parts for homeowners to purchase.

The Restoration Center at 201 E. Exchange St., Danvers, has items as maple and oak wood flooring, 19th- and 20th-century interior and exterior doors, traditional door and window casings and headers, hardware, old glass, church pews, multi-light windows and porch rails.

"We really are a unique resource center," said Tony Eckert, who was hired by the society to work in the warehouse and operate the Danvers center on Saturday. "We have unique vintage pieces."

Proceeds from the sale of items are used to continue operating the center and the Architectural Salvage Warehouse, 214 E. Douglas St., Bloomington.

Edward said the long-term goal is to provide items people need regularly - like wood flooring, fireplace mantels and exterior light fixtures - at the Bloomington location, and have other items salvaged or donated at the Danvers location.

The Old House Society bought the former car dealership building in Danvers about three years ago to use as a backup storage center. It replaced rental storage space in Bloomington.

Eckert is creating a work area at the Danvers site so items can be repaired or cleaned up to be sold. There also will be space for the workshops, which will be free or for a nominal charge.

Eckert, who lives in and is redeveloping the old City Hall building in Lexington, plans to talk with local contractors and homeowners to see what kinds of workshops to offer.

"Taking care of old buildings is a never-ending task," Edwards said. "It's a work in progress."

The society also has hired Andrea Pignotti, who has a bachelor's degree in historic preservation, to operate the Bloomington site beginning the first of the year.

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FYI

What: Old House Society Restoration Center

Where: 201 E. Exchange St., Danvers

When: Open to the public, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Workshops featuring common old-house repairs will begin in the spring.

On the Net: www.oldhousesociety.org