...experience woodworking
| Come into the woods... ...experience woodworking |
|
Furniture
Join our |
Our Story McLaughlin Woods started back in 1990, when Tom McLaughlin and his wife Kris moved from their home in Massachusetts to begin a three-year apprenticeship with P.A. "Pug" Moore of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. At age 73, this fine craftsman saw a talent in Tom that drew them together, leading Mr. Moore to invite Tom into his shop to learn the trade of reproduction furniture making. In that humble shop, great things were taught. It was the closest thing to an old world type apprenticeship that is known today. The vital elements of a great piece of furniture were revealed - design, proportion, material selection, and finishing techniques as well as integrity as a worker, family man, and friend. In 1993 Tom began working in his own shop on the back of their property, in Wilson, North Carolina. These were stretching days, beginning a new business, as well as new vocation, in your early thirties, is not easy. But Tom persevered, and 4 years later, in 1997, was able to move his family (see photo below) back home to New England to be closer to their extended family. From 1997 to 2002 he rented space on the property of a local stone worker, Chance Anderson, in Canterbury, New Hampshire. Early 1998 Tom was accepted as a member of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters Association (NHFMA), a group of craftsmen who band together for the purpose of marketing the art of furniture making. With the help of this affiliation, as well referrals from fellow woodworkers, including Mr. Moore, David Lamb, Terry Moore, etc. Tom continues to design and build quality custom furniture for clients up and down the eastern seaboard. On September 10, 2001, Tom and Kris broke ground on a 30' x 60' workshop on their property, only to be taken back by the horrid national events of the following day. Like the rest of the country, they questioned the timing and wisdom of continuing their plan to build in what was the beginning of some insecure times for us all. They decided to keep moving forward. The dream to construct such a large shop was two-fold. The first being for ample space to build quality furniture with integrity and efficiency. Making a custom piece of furniture is very involved and time consuming. Each step of the process - design, material selection, material prep, construction, and finishing - requires is own space to be optimally accomplished. The new shop affords the freedom of movement through each phase, as well as space to foster creativity. The second part of the dream is for the fellow woodworking enthusiast - that they might come and experience a taste of a working furniture-making shop, much like Mr. Moore provided for Tom. In 1998, Tom began teaching furniture-making classes at nearby Canterbury Shaker Village. In 2002, he hosted classes at McLaughlin Woods, in the new shop. Today the dream has blossomed into a reality of offering a collection mini-apprenticships with some of America's present day Masters. Click here for a look at the current McLaughlin Woods Class Schedule, Class Descriptions and/or to read about our phenomenal group of Instructors. If you would like to read some articles published over the years telling more of Tom's professional journey, his affiliation with the New Hampshire Furniture Masters, etc., click here on In the Media or on the side bar. We would love to have you visit us here in Canterbury. If you give us a call to let us know you're coming we can brew up a pot of coffee to share (603-783-9700). Click here to discover how to find us! |
 Mr. Moore and Tom, 1990. This site is dedicated to Tom's dear friend and mentor, Preston "Pug" Moore whom we lost to Heaven in October 2003.  Mr. Moore with 1st set of chairs he and Tom built together in 1990  Tom as an apprentice next to his first bow front chest built in 1991  Tom with Pug in front of the cabinet shop before it was torn down in 1997  Tom, Kris and family as we are today.  McLaughlin Woods in Canterbury, NH |