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History
Hands to Work was founded in 1974 by Tim Carlson in Groton, Massachusetts to fulfill a need for quality, custom made furniture which is simple and functional. The Shaker style exemplifies these qualities. "Whatever is fashioned, let it be plain and simple, unembellished by superfluities which add nothing to its goodness and durability." -- Shaker Laws of the Millennium Tim learned woodworking at the Groton High School and at the Groton Colonial Shop. He sold his first commission when he was 15 years old and has over 45 years experience in woodworking.  Tim Carlson Founder and Owner Purpose... Today, with everyone trying to find themselves, there is a small handful of women who are all that is left of the Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, commonly known as the Shakers. These people did much to make America what it is. In a period of a little over 200 years they grew from seven followers in 1774 to over 6,000 believers at the height of their movement in 1860. In just this 100 year span they gave the "world" such inventions as the flat broom, clothes pin, steel tip pen, circular saw blade, and clothes washer, just to mention a few. The list is long. For here are a people whose religious beliefs made them work for the attainment of Heaven on Earth, an Eden in their own time. And they proved it could be done. "Do your work as though you were to live for a thousand years but were to die tomorrow." Everything the Shakers undertook, they did with the greatest of skill and workmanship, so as not to waste a precious moment of time by having to repeat their work. If we can apply these basic philosophies of work to today, our lives would be much simpler and easier to deal with. We must work together, yet at the same time be individualistic in our thoughts. — Tim Carlson, 1978 Directions to the Shop View Larger Map More Information on the Shakers If you are interested in learning more about the Shakers, here is a short list of articles, resources, and documentaries for further study about their life and work. As Shaker Sister Mildred Barker said, "I don't want to be remembered as a chair!" •
Article:
"Living
a
Tradition"
by Richard & Joyce Wolkomir, Smithsonian.com, April 1,
2001.
• Article: "The Shakers, Part 1 and 2: Excerpt from Henry S. Nourse's "History of the Town of Harvard Massachusetts 1732–1893," written in 1894." From the Harvard Press, Harvard, MA, August 31 and September 7, 2007. Part 1 Part 2 • Documentary: "The Shakers" by Ken Burns •
Documentary:
"The
Shakers:
I
Don't Want to Be Remembered As a Chair"
• Website: Hancock Shaker Village in Hancock, MA •
Research
Guide:
Research Guide to the Shakers from the New York Public
Library
 The Hands to Work shop at 43 Meadowbrook Road. |
