Can America’s most recognizable woodworking personality actually retire?
By Jefferson Kolle
Pages 54-62
Norm Abram first stepped in front of a television camera in 1979 as the lead carpenter on “This Old House,” a show on which he still appears. A decade later, Norm began “The New Yankee Workshop,” and for 21 seasons he taught a glued-to-the-screen audience how to make furniture. Norm never skipped the hard parts, and while he didn’t make them look easy, he did show you that they were doable. As such, his gentle smile and reassuring manner coaxed countless people to take up the craft of working wood.
He has appeared on lots of other shows as well as in countless magazines, including two articles in the August 2005 issue of Popular Woodworking Magazine (#149). “The New Yankee Workshop” may be over, but Norm is hardly retired. He just bought a new old house that he’s renovating and he’s mulling over ideas for a new shop, so he can keep building and building.
In a recent discussion, Norm talked about TV, the Internet, woodworking and safety.
Video: In 2007, Norm Abram was interviewed by Popular Woodworking Magazine senior editor (then editor and publisher) Steve Shanesy.
Blog: Read this blog post about Norm’s decision to stop production of “The New Yankee Workshop.”
Web site: Visit the official “New Yankee” web site to watch selected episodes of the show, or purchase project plans and DVDs.
Articles: Our August 2005 issue (#149) featured a visit to ”The New Yankee Workshop” and a build-along of Norm Abram’s Adirondack chair. Read more
