Maris Grove Woodshop Club Travels Back in Time to Create Colonial Era Furniture

GLEN MILLS, PA— Maris Grove retirement community’s Woodshop Club has seized an opportunity to help restore a portion of the local Newlin Grist Mill to what it would have looked like in the colonial era.

The partnership was forged when Maris Grove residents toured the Newlin Grist Mill in the fall of 2015 and spoke to Tony Shahan, director of Newlin Grist Mill, about the lack of authentic fixtures in the mill. Maris Grove Woodshop Club, in turn, invited Mr. Shahan to tour the woodshop and discuss the possibility of creating authentic replicas of furniture that would have been utilized in a 1740s working mill.

Resident Don Yost, a member of the Woodshop Club, said, “I thought it would be a tremendous opportunity for our club to get involved in the community and show off our woodworking abilities.”

Show off their abilities they did.

The first project Mr. Shahan asked of the Woodshop Club was the most challenging project they’ve completed to date. Mr. Shahan requested the club to create a standing desk like one that would have been used by the head of the mill for record keeping and workspace. Although building a standing desk might not sound challenging, to make the project authentic as possible, the woodshop only used woodworking techniques available to carpenters in the 1740s.

“The entire project had to be done without the assistance of modern tools and supplies,” said Bob Sklar, a member of the Woodshop Club. “It was extremely tedious work; colonial carpenters did not have the luxuries we do today. We could not use modern nails or screws to assemble the desk; instead, we had to use a dovetail joint technique that involves interlocking two pieces of wood.”

The completed desk was taken to the Newlin Grist Mill and painted using a paint mixture genuine to the 1740s. The Newlin Grist Mill’s blacksmith shop produced two metal hinges and metal screws to be mounted on the desk for total authenticity in replicating the desk.

“This desk is incredible,” said Mr. Shahan. “I had confidence this group would get the job done, but I never expected the desk to look this great. To date the group has also made mill paddles, used for scooping flour into bags, a grain bin and a small apprentice desk. I have a few other projects in mind and I look forward to continuing our partnership with the craftsmen at Maris Grove and utilizing their tremendous skills to continue restoring the mill.”

Newlin Grist Mill will be hosting a grand opening for the exhibit Saturday, April, 30 2016, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All are invited to explore the mill and view the authentic replicas built by the Maris Grove Woodshop Club.

About Maris Grove: Maris Grove is one of eighteen continuing care retirement communities managed by Erickson Living. Located in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, the scenic 87-acre campus is home to more than 1,500 residents. Maris Grove is the ideal greater Delaware County retirement destination offering a true sense of community, convenience beyond compare and a sensible financial structure.

###