Peterson finds reward in making and gifting woodworking projects
Gary Peterson of McGregor has been woodworking for around 40 years. He’s always considering new projects, many of which he gives away as gifts or donates to community causes. (Photo by Audrey Posten)
This is one of the beautiful clocks made by Gary Peterson and donated to the McGregor Public Library’s Books and Baskets fundraiser. (Photo submitted)
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
Santa’s workshop may have quieted for the holiday season, but Gary Peterson’s is active year-round.
“Well, if the golf season’s here, I don’t spend as much time in it,” Peterson joked.
Nonetheless, the McGregor man is always dreaming up woodworking projects, many of which he gives away as gifts or donates to community causes.
Peterson has been woodworking for around 40 years. He was inspired to start the hobby after seeing a little wooden train at a friend’s house.
“That was pretty neat, and I thought, ‘Gee, I wish I could make one of those,’” Peterson recalled. “He let me borrow that train, and I took it home and I started to copy it and made that.”
“Then I had to buy a saw,” he continued, “and one thing led to another. I didn’t have much equipment, but I slowly got the tools I needed to build things.”
Not surprisingly, trains remain Peterson’s favorite project to make. He also crafts many crosses. At this point, he said, every member of the First Lutheran Church congregation has one.
Trays, home decor and even furniture have come out of Peterson’s workshop. Oak is his preferred wood to use for all the projects, which are then stained and varnished.
“I made a lot of things for our house, like coffee tables and shelves,” he said of his home with late wife Jean.
Peterson even replicated an antique wooden desk given to him by an aunt.
“It was a challenge to make, but I thought it came out quite well,” he quipped.
Although he’s worked from photographs, Peterson prefers projects he can copy from another true-to-size object—like the desk or original train.
“When you have the project right there, you can go over with your tape and say, ‘It’s this wide. It’s this long.” I make that part of the desk, then go back. It makes it a lot easier when it’s right there and you can measure and copy,” Peterson explained. “On the pictures, I wonder, ‘How wide is that?’”
In any case, “I try to make something that resembles what I saw,” he added. “Sometimes it’s pretty good, and sometimes it’s quite average.”
Other pieces Peterson is known for are clocks. They’re often one of the featured items at the McGregor Public Library’s annual Books and Baskets fundraiser.
He purchases the mechanism, then creates different sizes and designs.
“Some are 15 inches tall, or 20 inches tall. I have a magazine I steal some thoughts from,” Peterson said. “But I always try to make each of the clocks a little bit different.”
Peterson acknowledged he had dreams once of displaying the items he’s made in an arts and crafts show. He enjoys visiting the McGregor festival each fall to see what others have made.
“There’s some pretty nice stuff down there, and it’s a nice place to get ideas,” he said.
But he’s also content to give his woodworking away for others to enjoy.
“They make nice gifts,” he noted. “And sometimes when I visit someone, I’ll say, ‘Oh, there’s the clock I made, or there’s the train sitting up there.’ I think most people appreciate it.”
For Peterson, it’s rewarding to bring others joy. The process of making the pieces is rewarding too.
It’s a relaxing pastime.
“You go out and think, ‘Well, I’ll do this awhile.’ Then I’ll do some more, and I’ll do some more. Time goes quite fast,” he said. “It’s an enjoyable way to spend time. And I feel a sense of accomplishment. Sometimes you’ll see an object, a project and say, ‘That’s right. I made that. That looks pretty good.’ Or you might say, ‘I should have done this or that.’ The next one, I will.”
