Willard House and Clock Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Willard House and Clock Museum
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The Willard Museum and homestead in North Grafton, Massachusetts.
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| Location | 11 Willard St. Grafton, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1718 |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004470 |
| Added to NRHP | June 1, 1982 |
The Willard House and Clock Museum is a special place in North Grafton, Massachusetts. It's a museum dedicated to the amazing clocks made by the Willard family.
Contents
Discover the Willard Clock Museum
This museum is located in the old home and farm of the famous Willard brothers. These brothers – Benjamin, Simon, Ephraim, and Aaron – were skilled clockmakers. They started their business here in the late 1700s.
The house itself was built around 1718. It sits in a peaceful, open field, just like it did when the Willard family lived and worked there.
From Farm to Clock Shop
At first, the Willard family balanced their lives between farming and making clocks. They would farm in certain seasons and work on clocks at other times. As their clock business grew, it became very successful. Because of this, they made the house even bigger!
Later, the brothers moved their clockmaking business to Roxbury. This area is now part of Boston. There, they became very important in the growing American clockmaking world.
Simon Willard's Famous Invention
One of the most famous Willard brothers was Simon. He was very creative and invented a special clock while still in Grafton. This clock is often called a "banjo clock." Its official name is the "Willard Patent Timepiece." Simon received a patent for this invention in 1802.
The Museum's Story
The Willard House and Clock Museum was started by Dr. Roger W. Robinson and his wife Imogene. They loved collecting Willard clocks. They were able to buy the original Willard family home, which became the museum.
For a short time in the late 1990s, the museum was managed by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. However, it soon became an independent foundation again. Today, it is run by a group of people. This group includes members of the Willard family, the Robinsons, local community members, and clock experts.
What You Can See at the Museum
The original farmhouse has been expanded over the years. Now, in addition to the old rooms, there are two large galleries. The museum has more than 80 Willard clocks on display. These clocks show the amazing skill of all the family members who worked in the clock business.
You'll see clocks that were made in Grafton. There are also clocks made later, after the Willard family moved their business to Roxbury.
Besides the huge collection of Willard clocks, the museum also shows many items that belonged to the Willard family. The original house is decorated with furniture from that time period. There's also a rebuilt workshop building. Here, you can see old clockmaking tools. It helps you imagine what Simon Willard's workshop might have looked like. Most of the clocks at the museum are kept running, so you can see them in action!
The museum also has a small gift shop. If you are a museum member, you can visit their special library by appointment. This library has many books and materials about the Willard family and their clocks.
