I was asked at last year’s meeting of the RSS to make a box since keeping it in a plastic grocery bag seemed to be lacking class. I was initially planning on making a sliding top box for it similar to the one I made for the Goose and Gridiron Lodge for their gavel from walnut.
As the time drew near, I remembered having the piece of wood from Rufus Putnam’s house in my stash of special wood from several years ago and thought it would be a nice gesture to include some of it. It was not initially in the plan.
I was gifted the wood from Bro. Bill Reynolds of American Union Lodge. He works at the museum that cares for the Rufus Putnam house and had obtained the wood when an addition made to the home later in Rufus’ life was dismantled for a more accurate presentation focusing on the original 4 rooms of the Campus Martius era.
I spend about 20 hours crafting that box most of it in the preparation of the inlay, the execution of the dovetail joints, and fitting the lid.
I work in the style of the 18th century in that all work was done with hand tools. No power tools were used in the construction of this box from rough lumber to finished product.
I have been interested in historical woodworking of small objects for many years and constantly research and reproduce objects from and for museums. I am currently working on a small box made from wood that was a witness to George Washington from his Mount Vernon estate. That tree began growing in 1780 about 50 yards from the house. It blew down in a storm in late 2019.
My motivation for this project is to show that everyone has a talent and they should find a way to share their talents for the benefit of their Lodge and the Craft!
-RWB Dan Hrinko.
