Announcing the Recipient of the 2024
David G. Gow Memorial Scholarship for horology

The Gow Scholarship community continues to grow and is pleased to welcome Jennifer Hohman. 

Jennifer was among a nationwide group of subject matter experts competing for the scholarship. Located in Springboro, Ohio, Jennifer transitioned from a 15-year career as a Registered Piano Technician and piano teacher to a full-time clockmaker with a brick-and-mortar business.  She has apprenticed under several clockmakers around the country.

When asked why she moved to clockmaking, she said, “Unlike pianos, clocks feature a nearly endless variety of mechanical designs and technology. There are many different occupations in creating a clock, from metalsmiths and dial painters to cabinet makers.”  Hohman continues, “I may never run out of new facets to explore within horology. [The] overlap between musicians and horologists is simply fascinating.”

Jennifer’s shop is the only one of its kind in 100 miles of her business in Waynesville, Ohio. The clock conservation and clockmaking trades are in need of formal apprenticeships, advanced study programs and funding –the Gow family and museum are working to provide improvements on these fronts.

Ms. Hohman holds an undergraduate degree in the Arts, with a major in Piano Studies from Kent State University.

*Waynesville image by Cincinnati Magazine

DAVID G. GOW SCHOLARSHIP COMMUNITY ADDS A NEW MEMBER FOR 2023

Nationwide annual scholarship program dedicated to professional careers in clockmaking seeks to grow its community with unique talent

Establishing a long-term plan to support the study of horology (the study of time and timekeepers) and assist those working toward a professional career in clockmaking and restoration, the family of former Willard House & Clock Museum conservator, David G. Gow and the museum is pleased to announce the 2023 Gow scholarship recipient.  

Twenty-eight-year-old Patrick Mont of East Freetown, Massachusetts was among a select group of very select applicants competing for the scholarship. An outstanding addition to the Gow community, Patrick is a factory-trained clockmaker at the Chelsea Clock Company in Chelsea, Massachusetts.  He also serves on board positions with Massachusetts Watchmakers and Clockmakers Association (MWCA) and the American Watchmakers and Clockmakers Institute (AWCI).

When asked why Patrick decided to pursue this field, he commented, “Living in the Boston area, many vintage and period clocks cross my path, and I need to better understand proper restoration and conservation techniques to work on them with true stewardship.”  Patrick continues, “the Gow scholarship gives me access to classes and experts that I couldn’t consider before.”

Mr. Mont holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Rhode Island College.  When not working at the bench, he enjoys traditional black and white photography and darkroom work.  Patrick has very strong interests in antiques and decorative arts and music and is enthusiastic fan of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

An annual scholarship program dedicated to professional careers in clockmaking

As part of a long-term plan to support the science of horology (the study of time and timekeepers) and aid those working toward a professional career in clockmaking, the family of David G. Gow and the museum is pleased to announce the first scholarship recipient. 

Parker Boughton of Des Moines, Iowa (on the right) was among nearly 20 applicants competing for the scholarship. Parker studied conservation at Saint Ambrose University and was chosen among a diverse pool of talent.

“We are delighted to celebrate Parker as our first Gow scholarship recipient”, says Callum Gow of the scholarship review board. “I anticipate that Parker will be the first in a long-line of Gow scholarship winners over many years to come.”

“Today the professional career path of museum-level clock conservation is not well defined”, says Robert C. Cheney, Willard’s Executive Director, “Unlike a century ago, formal apprenticeship programs are scarce and any funding difficult to obtain –Willard hopes to provide improvements on both fronts.”

When asked why Boughton decided to pursue this field, he commented, “I like clocks because of their varied technical repair and restoration challenges, the innovation that’s inherent in these machines and the opportunity to understand the engineering intent of the clockmaker.”

Parker Boughton is a 21-year-old horological student from central Iowa. He attended Saint Ambrose University and secured a degree in Fine Art Conservation. He graduated finding a niche later on in horological repair. With a passion for quality horological conservation, he studies under Stephen Franke and has pursued further education in the field of horology. 

Parker currently operates out of Des Moines Iowa in his own workshop, furthering his knowledge of horology, in general as well as clock restoration and clockmaking.