Artisans

Woodworker

As wood was the main raw material available to early communities, the talents of the woodworkers were heavily relied upon.

Carpenters made and repaired items from wood. They built houses and made furniture, such as tables, chairs, and cabinets.

Coopers made casks, or wooden containers, used for most storage needs. The cooper bound planks called staves together with wooden or metal hoops. He heated the barrel over a small stove to make the staves bend more easily.

Wheelwrights made wheels, and wainwrights made wagons. These artisans were in great demand as wagons were needed for travel and for transporting goods. Both wagons and wheels were mostly wood and needed constant repairs because the roads were bumpy and rough.

Ernest Glaser

Tools and equipment in the Woodworker’s Shop are primarily from the workshop/collection of Ernest Glaser, a European master craftsman who, after teaching in New Jersey, retired to Snow Hill. A cabinetmaker, his pieces are highly prized and include items made for the Smithsonian. Tools include those which would have been used in the early 19th century as well as some vintage 1950's bench tools.