Page 16 - JOAMay2021

Old Sturbridge Village Constructs New Cabinetmaking Shop

STURBRIDGE, MA – Old Sturbridge Village is adding the first new told,” said Brock Jobe, Old Sturbridge Village trustee and professor
building to the Village Common within this living museum in 50 years: emeritus of American Decorative Arts at the Winterthur Museum,
a Cabinetmaking Shop. Garden, and Library. “And most importantly, the hundreds and thou-
The Village has employed both historic and modern building sands of visitors who come to Old Sturbridge Village every year deserve
methods in the construction of the Cabinetmaking Shop, which is the opportunity to see, hear, and touch an activity that was central to
patterned after period structures life in America for centuries – the
operated by early 19th century fine craft of woodworking.”
New England craftsmen. The Costumed interpreters will
building will include a wood-burn- construct the shop during the days
ing stove, as did many free-stand- that the Village is open; Campus
ing shops of the period, and a small Operations staff will continue the
external woodshed, based on work on days when Old Sturbridge
George Bradley’s shop in Village is closed. Many elements of
Newtown, Connecticut. the final Cabinetmaking Shop
For approximately 40 years, Old will be created by craftsmen and
Sturbridge Village operated a craft interpretive staff working in the
shop dedicated to woodworking Village, including reproduction
techniques. The Cabinet Shop period tools, doors, shelves, and the
ceased operation in the mid-1980s, box stove. The large timbers for the
and the building was repurposed construction of the shop were also
for broom making and other craft cut by the Village Sawmill. Old
demonstrations. Sturbridge Village plans to host a
The Cabinetmaking trade is so ribbon-cutting ceremony at the
Picture of a scale model of the shop,
vital to the story of early 19th- built by Old Sturbridge Village Trustee Bob Roemer new Cabinetmaking Shop in the
century rural New England life, fall of 2021.
that Village staff and Trustees began working on a plan to bring cabi- “We are excited for the opportunity to share the process of the
netmaking back to the Village permanently around 2017. cabinetmaking shop construction with our visitors,” said President and
Sturbridge and the region were home to some of the foremost CEO, Jim Donahue. “We look forward to the completion of the new
cabinetmakers of the early 19th century, including Nathan Lumbard building and bringing back this historic trade to Old Sturbridge Village
and Oliver Wight. These individuals, as well as others like them, were for many generations to come.”
integral parts of the story of rural communities. To learn more about Old Sturbridge Village, upcoming events and
“The story of cabinetmaking in rural New England deserves to be programs, hours and directions, visit osv.org

14 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles