Willard House and Clock Museum is about to enter the most ambitious capital campaign since the founding of the museum! Museum Trustee and esteemed Treasurer, Charles N. Grichar has made us

a deal we simply can't refuse. With the unanimous approval of the Board of Trustees, we will begin the first steps towards the $15 million prize this fall.

So What's the Deal? Over a five year period, Willard needs to raise its present endowment of approximately $1.8 million to reach $5 million. At this point, Mr. Grichar will contribute $1 million to the endowment and preparations will be made for further steps including architectural renderings of a new building (within walking distance}, featuring gallery and storage space, a small auditorium, a horological library, conservation workshops and classrooms for the study of horology.

A timed (sorry) schedule will release other funding as the project requires up to and through the build.

What Will Fill This New Building? Approximately 90 additional clocks representing some of the finest work of the Willards and their apprentices (better than doubling our current inventory), including the exceptional collection of E. Howard astronomical regulators known, bringing the Willard story into the 20th century. An additional 300 high-grade gold pocket watches, 125 of some of the most fashionable, complicated and expensive wrist watches known to the party-goers in Monte Carlo, will round out the benchmark-setting collection.

In short, this collection will dazzle the lovers of 18th century Willard material and show where this influence led horology through the 19th and into the 20th century.

Except, that which will improve our care and curation of the present collection. The Trustees of the Willard House and Clock Museum consider the present museum buildings and footprint to be sacred and are devoted to its place in horological landmarks. Tours, events and group visits will continue as usual.

Launching Another Record-Breaking Annual Appeal - Continuing The Next 50

Years Campaign. Goal is to Raise $100,000 for 2024! We need your help, please.

The first of several steps towards our long-term goal was the launch of 2023 Annual Appeal - The Next 50 Years. Through your generosity, we exceeded our $75,000 fundraiser goal.

2024 will continue the work with a new objective of $100,000. The money goes toward our operating budget so that we can keep the lights on, bring in new programming pay for our staff and ensure continued growth of the museum endowment to full-fill our obligation for the terms of the gift.

As we explained last year, the balance of the expenses not covered by our Annual Appeal and any additional programing, special events or the unanticipated expenses like a crashed computer network, an oil burner or a water pump giving up at the worst possible time, are all paid for by the proceeds generated by our endowment account.

It goes without saying that limited use of endowment proceeds is the dependable life-line which powers most non-profits.

Our endowment was established by the founders, Dr. and Mrs. Robinson nearly fifty years ago and it remains our engine for existence. So, what’s the problem? The last few years have been treacherous to even the most conservatively invested endowments as a world-wide pandemic was followed up with the Russian invasion of Ukraine setting the stage for the first land war in Europe since WW II. One look at your 401K tells you exactly what non-profits are experiencing all over the world, and recovery is slow at best.

Willard’s Board of Trustees, mandated with fiduciary responsibilities for the museum, are strongly committed to planning the financial future for The Next 50-Years and towards that end, want to triple the corpus (the money invested) of the current endowment over the next five years. To do this will require hard work, generosity and a demonstration of the importance of preserving the Willard homestead, workshop and acreage, as well as communicating the importance of teaching the forgotten science of horology and its solitary role in nearly every scientific discovery ever made.

As we move beyond the Annual Appeal to the phase, our emphasis will be the future, specifically, the endowment. Our endowment is the engine to supply income for special projects, events and education. Given the financial headwinds of the market, our focus on rebuilding our endowment becomes all the more crucial.

Future meetings of the Trustees and discussions among our membership will determine the growing final plan. I hope you will join us on this journey.

We are pleased to announce, that in the "nick of time," Willard has established the "Willard Collector's Guild" which will serve as a savings account used exclusively for the purchases of Willard material offered for sale by dealers, collectors, and auction houses. It has exceeded all expectations last September!

It is important to note that these funds are raised through donations made exclusively to the Collector's Guild and are not related to general membership or campaign funds raised to support the general fund. Members of the Guild want their donations used exclusively for additions to the collections.

The need for the Willard Collector's Guild and a rapid plea for donations to the fund came when an important Simon Willard timepiece caught my attention being offered for sale in September 2022 only days before the sale at Brunk's Auctions in Ashville, N. C..

Fortunately, I knew the clock from an appraisal that I conducted three decades earlier of a Cincinnati collection. This eliminated the need for a quick trip to North Carolina to examine the clock prior to bidding. A lighting-fast consult with generous Trustees and friends provided the necessary funds and the Willard Collector's Guild bought its first Willard clock within days of discovery.

The importance of the clock was the original signature on the back side of the box glass: "Painted by John R. Penniman/Boston/1803". This inscription made this clock the only documented patent timepiece made during the decade of the 1802 patent for this new Willard form, and only the second Penniman inscribed timepiece known (the other, from two decades later). It obviously documents glasses painted by Penniman, but also documents the early painted dial, brass side ornaments and case characteristics at the birth of the the 1802 Patent.

Donations to the Willard Collector's Guild can be made out to Willard House and Clock Museum with the Guild noted in the reference area. Questions about the Guild? contact: robert@willardhouse.org

(RCC)

Founding Members of the Willard Collector's Guild

Wayne Andrews

Robert C Cheney

Ralph Fletcher

Charles N Grichar

Anna Keiter

Gary Sullivan

James L Telfer

The museum hosted a wide variety of events over the summer. From stargazing, craft activities and music to antique cars, Willard had much to offer.

On July 26th, WHCM and the Grafton Public Library, hosted the James Webb Space Telescope + Stargazing Party. The free event was generously supported by the Webster First Federal Credit Union. 

More than 160 attendees from Worcester County and the Boston metrowest area came out to see the presentation and take in the heavens on that night.

Willard Hosted Kid-Centric Activities for August Adventures 2023, A Free Admission Day Sponsored by The Highland Street Foundation.  

On Thursday on August 10^th the museum hosted a full day of kid-friendly activities and tours. More than 260 attendees from as far as Portsmouth, NH, Springfield, MA, parts of RI, CT and Worcester County visited the museum for the first time.

 “This was the first time Willard has been included in Highland Street Foundation’s state-wide outreach program and their support enabled us to bring a wide variety of community programming for the day,” said the museum’s Director of Development, Robert Gierschick.

Showcasing 31 events for 31 days, Highland Street Foundation, makes all of it 100% free. “We are thrilled to partner with such wide array of institutions, all of which add to the incredibly rich cultural fabric of our Commonwealth,” said Highland Street’s Executive Director Blake Jordan. “Increasing access to these wonderful places is a shared goal of all of us and we hope to welcome new and diverse audiences through their doors during August Adventures.”

On August 19th, more than 150 visitors came to Willard to enjoy antique cars, food and craft beer. UniBank made free admission possible that day.

Blackstone Valley Model A Ford Club

Co-Hosted By Mass Audubon

an Eastern Red, Hoary, Big Brown or Little Brown bat.

Ralph Pokluda

Peter & Shirley Williams

George Whitman

John Wood

Jack Woods

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Robert C. Cheney - Executive Director and Curator