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11 Willard Street
North Grafton MA 01536

5088393500

The Willard House & Clock Museum is a historic place with festive roots, right in the heart of Massachusetts. Come visit us for a guided tour of our museum.

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15 Million Reasons To Make You Smile

 

WHCM to Receive $15 Million Gift to Expand its Collection and Build State-of-the-Art Facility

On April 27th, the museum officially announced a gift, in excess of $15 million from Trustee Charles N. Grichar - a collection of The finest Willard clocks and Howard astronomical regulators in existence, all of which will double the museum’s collection.

In addition, the collection will be housed in a new state-of-the-art facility that will substantially expand the museum’s footprint and offer a new compliment of horological support services.

to make this remarkable gift a reality, we need your help to raise $3 million in five years

The museum is working with its Trustees, benefators and foundations to meet its financial committmen and we need your help. There are many ways to donate - from checks and credit card and donor advised fund gifts to stock transfers and IRA Qualified Charitable Deductions, your contribution has a direct and lasting impact on the museum.

Questions? Feel free to call us at 508-839-3500 or write us at info@willardhouse.org.


The willard family - THE CENTER OF EARLY AMERICAN CLOCKMAKING

Benjamin Willard began making clocks in his small, rural Massachusetts workshop in North Grafton, in 1766. His three younger brothers, Simon, Ephraim, and Aaron, quickly learned the trade and began a three-generation clockmaking legacy.

Today, over 90 Willard clocks are exhibited in the birthplace and original workshop of the Willard clockmakers, along with family portraits, furnishings, and other Willard family heirlooms. Works by all three generations of Willard clockmakers, including famed clockmakers Simon Willard Jr. and Benjamin Franklin Willard, are also displayed.

Take a step back in time and witness a unique and important part of America's technological, artistic, and entrepreneurial history with us.

Plan your visit

For information and directions, please look through our About pages. If you have any questions, please call the museum at 508.839.3500. We look forward to seeing you.


 

Featured Object

Astronomical Regulator

Simon Willard Jr. (1795-1874), Boston, c. 1840

These precision timepieces were made initially for astronomical purposes such as observing the transits of Mercury and Venus and therefore were originally found in observatories. Most of these observatories were not large professional public structures as we would imagine. They were often built by individuals with the interest and the capital to follow that interest.

These pieces were useful for non-astronomical purposes too. They were used to keep other clocks accurate, and later to keep train schedules accident free.

This example is part of the Grichar Collection and features a Greek column inspired case.


FEATURED BOOK

Simon Willard Patent Alarm Time Pieces
by Paul Foley and John Losch

Based on an exhibit at Willard House from 2003. This book has 110 full-color pages and features 40 examples illustrated with 185 photos, including movements and dials. If you have ever wondered about Simon Willard's third patent, known as a "lighthouse clock," this volume contains the latest research! The museum already owns three pieces in this book.

Order This Book Today

 

WHCM is pleased to partner with the following organizations

The Dietrich American Foundation was established in 1963 by H. Richard Dietrich, Jr. (1938–2007) to collect, research and document historically important examples of American decorative and fine arts, primarily of the eighteenth century.

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Founded in 1866, the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) is one of the oldest continuously operating horological associations in the world. Today, HSNY is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the art and science of horology through education.

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