Chase's Mill in Alstead, NH is hosting Building an Oval Shaker Box as part of our 2024 calendar of community events. With guidance from instructor Laura Andrews, participants will build a cherry shaker oval box. Shaker box and furniture making has been a part of New England's woodworking culture since the late 1700s. Learn how to make a small oval Shaker box using early methods still used today. Steps include cutting and bending the band, fastening it with brass tacks, cutting and shaping the tops and bottoms, putting it all together and instructions on applying a finish. This box can be used for storing any small treasures. Open to adults and to children 8 years and up with an accompanying adult.

Laura Andrews learned woodworking from her grandfather in his basement workshop. But it was "Woodworking for Women," taught through Keene Community Education by Gail Grycel, where Laura learned about power tools and other building skills. Laura now lives in Keene and is the University Director of Institutional Advancement at Antioch University.

The Mill Hollow Heritage Association (MHHA) operates Chase's Mill in Alstead, NH, as a workshop for hands-on learning and a community gathering space. Our water-powered mill embodies the history of small-town industry, celebrating New England's vibrant past and inspiring the future of sustainable power and rural technology.