Willard Clock Museum

What a great find!  Mary Cool told me about this museum and so Susan and I took Saturday to drive out and investigate.   I was mostly interested in seeing the farm, but the clocks were really fascinating.  With a great tour hosted by Sarah Mullen, we learned a huge amount about early clock making in America. Grandfather clocks, 30-hour clocks, Lighthouse clocks, chronometers, tower clocks,  all were present, mostly from late 1700's until the mid 1800's.  If you are a clock lover, this is a wonderful place.  And the occasional lovely antique furnishing and rug doesn't hurt.
The museum is located at 11 Willard Street, North Grafton, Ma. which is just west of the juncture of Rt. 495 and Rt. 9.
The farm was built in 1718, by the Willards.  Benjamin was the first Willard clockmaker, and his Son Simon, and his son Simon, were all clock makers. 
Here is the tour.

The farm is a beauty

The house is full of period furnishings, tools, etc.

As you do the tour, each successive room has more clocks.  This one is by Benjamin.

The flintlock over the kitchen fireplace.

These are called "Banjo" clocks, invented by Simon.  They were the first commercially successful

wall clock. It was the first eight-day clock.

This is Benjamin.

Nice collection of antique firearms in the very dim hallway.

An example of a "Lighthouse" clock, which was the first alarm clock. One of these is in the White House library

made to commemorate the visit of Lafayette to America in 1824.

Beautiful Chest-on-chest

Detail of above

Dining room display

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Detail of a very strange rifle in the collection

Here is Sarah Mullin, our expert and gracious guide,
and David Gow, conservator.

Some exquisite rugs, too!

This was a tower clock, for a church steeple.  This one had been in a church in Marshfield, MA. that

was destroyed by fire.  

Detail of above

This is a gallery clock, so named because it would hang from the gallery of a church, or auditorium.

Susan may have seen enough clocks by now.  Actually, she loved the whole place.

This is the one Willard clock the museum owns that chimes a melody.

Detail of above

Another tower clock in progress in the workshop.

The workshop

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This machine creates accurate brass gears.

Truly worth a visit.  Thank you, Sarah!