The Tools they used— A History of Woodstock Through Tools

Two talks illustrating the use of tools throughout the history of Woodstock.

Richard Heppner, the author of six local history books and the Town Historian, will talk on life in early Woodstock from 12:30 to 1:15.
His presentation will cover farming, blue stone quarrying, ice harvesting, and woodworking.

At 1:30, Graham Blackburn, a master woodworker, and a featured presenter at the national level on woodworking, will discuss woodworking tools and demonstrate their uses.

Until the beginning of the 20th century the Town of Woodstock was an agricultural rural community. The town was largely self-sufficient in that people grew or produced most of what they needed to live a good life. Surrounding the small-town center were many active farms that raised livestock and grew a variety of crops. Farming itself has never been a hugely profitable endeavor in the Catskills, and Woodstock farmers were no exception. They frequently had to supplement their income with other activities such as making shake shingles or barrel staves from locally harvested timber. Ice harvesting from local ponds was a winter job, as was hauling timber and quarried bluestone by sled over snow.

The Tool Shed exhibit highlights some of the stories of the people of Woodstock through the tools they used from the mid-1800s until the mid-1900s. They represent farm families, tradespeople, and merchants. The tools on display show a sample of the types of work in which these people engaged.