The Center of Early American Clockmaking
willard House & Clock Museum event
join us on saturday, april 27th from 12:00 to 4:00 for the first public reveail of one of the largest horological gifts in the region.
Willard House & Clock Museum will receive a gift, valued in excess of $15 million dollars to grow into a world-class museum. The offering was made possible by museum Trustee Charles N. Grichar of Houston, TX.
meet mr. Grichar and the other trustees. enjoy food, music, the grounds and the galleries. all are welcome.
The willard family
Benjamin Willard began making clocks in his small, rural Massachusetts workshop in 1766. His three younger brothers, Simon, Ephraim, and Aaron, quickly learned the trade and began a three-generation clockmaking legacy.
Today, over 90 Willard clocks are exhibited in the birthplace and original workshop of the Willard clockmakers, along with family portraits, furnishings, and other Willard family heirlooms. Works by all three generations of Willard clockmakers, including famed clockmakers Simon Willard Jr. and Benjamin Franklin Willard, are also displayed.
Take a step back in time and witness a unique and important part of America's technological, artistic, and entrepreneurial history with us.
Plan your visit
For information and directions, please look through our About pages. If you have any questions, please call the museum at 508.839.3500. We look forward to seeing you.
Featured Object
Lewis (1779-1814) and Alpheus (1785-1842) Babcock piano, Boston, MA c.1810. Lewis apprenticed under the first Massachusetts pianomaker, Benjamin Crehore (1765-1831). He and his brother, Alpheus, then opened their own shop at 49 1/2 Newbury Street, Boston in 1810. By 1812 they were partnered with organ builder Thomas Appleton (1785-1872). This piece is therefore an early example of the Babcock brothers’ work as well as a beautiful addition to our gallery!
Featured Book
John Minott: Boston Ornamental and Clock Dial Painter
by Paul J. Foley
Minott was a pioneering painter of tall clock dials working primarily for the Roxbury/Boston, MA Willard clockmakers in the late 18th century. Dozens of his signed tall clock dials have been identified, documented, and are illustrated in this new work.
The author traces Minott’s relatively melancholy career that brought him great financial success followed by economic and personal failure at the time of the near collapse of the New England economy during the War of 1812. Minott signed many of his painted dials on the rear, enabling them to be identified today. Additionally, there are many unsigned dials that can be confidently attributed to him. Minott established Boston as the center of American painted tall clock dials.
Fully illustrated paperback with colored photographs, 8 ½ x 11, 48 pages
WHCM is pleased to partner with the following organizations:
