About
Growing up with a strong interest in history, I have always aspired to learn how things were done in the past, practice these historical trades, and preserve these skillsets for future generations. Clockmaking and musical instrument conservation have always been my biggest passions. With over sixteen years of experience in both fields, it is my goal to offer my services to restore historical artifacts to their original condition and function.
My Story
Clocks
Growing up in the town of Plymouth Connecticut, I was surrounded by remnants of Connecticut's manufacturing past. Eli Terry (1772-1852) the first industrialist to mass produce clocks, lived and was buried right down the street from my family farm. Ruins of old clock factories and mill sites were present all around me, and antique clocks made in my home town could be found at antique shops near and far away. I started volunteering at the American Clock and Watch Museum as a tour guide just before my fourteenth birthday. An entire community of "old-time" clockmakers and enthusiasts took me under their wing and supervision, and I was more than happy to learn the trades of the past.
Violins
After finding an antique violin in the barn when I was nine years old, I became absolutely enamored with it! My parents took me to take violin lessons from Mrs. Louise VanGorder (1943-2014). Her husband Bob and another master conservator Scott took me in as a luthiers apprentice, as I was always curious as to how violins were made and repaired. Over a period of ten years I learned and mastered the art of luthiery, fixing violin family instruments and specializing in bow re-hairing & restoration.
Museum Work
As I started volunteering at the clock museum, I expressed interest in local history museums as well. At 15 years old, I became the Vice President of the Plymouth Historical Society where I operated the facilities, and worked with the museums collections and archive. Shortly after I became a board member of the Bristol [Connecticut] Historical Society, where I worked on the museum's facility restoration, and the collections committee. I was later taken in as staff member at the New England Carousel Museum working under Louise Demars (1944-2023). For five years I worked for Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut teaching historical trade classes like blacksmithing and wood working, Native American history, and archaeology. After finishing my degree in History with a minor in Arts and focus in Curating, I began work as the Lead of Historical Music Interpretation at Old Sturbridge Village. There I was promoted to the Coordinator of Music, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts, where I created and executed programs on early-American music and arts.
Presently, I work for Foley-Baker Inc., working as a conservator and technician of pipe organs. Moving into the conservation field has allowed me to invest more of my personal time in offering services for clock and violin restoration.
Delfina the Cat
As most clock repairmen can attest, shop cats are a neccessary and viable part of operations. Delfina supervises, monitors, and quality checks all of the work done in the shop. Her specialty is ensuring that gears spin properly, and that pendulums remain in constant motion.
It is her typical requirement to be lifted to the top of my tall clock, where she can supervise what goes on in the house and feel tall.
