Fairfield Foundation board president Tom Karow had been looking for a couple years for someone who could restore the period shutters for Timberneck, the historic home on the York River in Hayes owned and maintained by the Gloucester not-for-profit archaeological preservation group.
Turns out the Mathews resident didn’t have to look too far from his own home.
After seeing a front-page story in the Gazette-Journal in September about Mathews High School carpentry students taking part in a Tiny House construction project, Karow reached out to Wes Robbins, the school’s carpentry teacher, and received an emphatic “Yes” in reply.
Under the guidance of Robbins, two MHS sophomores—Ivar Golden and Logan Macias—are heading up the hands-on project, which blends traditional craftsmanship with modern technology.
In all, there are 17-18 shutters that are being restored, keeping as much of the original wood as possible, as well as preserving the original craftsmanship. Among the pieces, Karow said, ar...