This weekend I’m in San Marcos, Texas, at the Wortheffort school of woodworking. Haven’t heard of the school? It’s new. But I hope you will hear more soon.
The school is the brainchild of Shawn Graham, who wanted to create a hand-tool school with a community focus. The storefront school is located in the small college town of San Marcos – halfway between Austin and San Antonio. It’s on the same strip with lots of tattoo parlors, locavore restaurants, boxing clubs and college bars.
Today I arrived at the school as Shawn was finishing one of the French workbenches for the school in order to accommodate 13 students in the classroom. It’s a big, open and airy room, with a digital projector, whiteboards and lots of benches.
And it’s all sourced from Craigslist.com, Shawn says.
After dumping my tools off, I headed over to the Root Cellar Cafe, an incredible little subterranean restaurant, for a late lunch. Then it was back to the school to help prep the stock for my class tomorrow while Shawn held a free open house for members of the community.
During the 2-1/2 hours, Shawn showed the residents (of all ages and genders) how to build a small Roubo bookstand suitable for a cellphone. He cajoled them with humor and geometry to understand the important lessons.
And I sweat like a pig in the corner while sawing up (by hand) the poplar and pine planks for the class on Saturday.
One of the locals looked over and asked Shawn what I was doing.
“He’s the teacher for the weekend class; he’s just sawing up sticks,” he said.
“A teacher? I thought he was just the hired help,” she said.
Well, I really am the hired help. This school is clearly Shawn’s baby. It has the feel of Roy Underhill’s The Woodwright’s School, but done in a Texas style. As I grew up just one state north (but a world away) we’ll see how I do when I start teaching in the morning.
Perhaps Shawn will see fit to send me back to the corner to saw wood. And I’m OK with that.
— Christopher Schwarz
Fantastic! Good for Shawn. I wish him much luck and would love to make a trip to his place one day.
Ya gotta try Torchy’s Tacos in Austin for the best tacos you’ve ever had while you’re there!
There are some small gems in Texas. San Marcos is one of them. Most of my time there was spent in an inner tube floating down the river. A woodworking school would have been a way better option.
If you have the time, you should travel south on 35 to New Braunfels for their Wurstfest this weekend. It is a celebration of all things German, including good beer, good food, and too much Polka.
I really did think you were a local college kid hired to do the tough job- silly me. Next time be sure to drive the 25 miles to Lockhart for some Chisolm Trail Barbeque. Well worth the trip. Hope you class went well.