2024 Ward Francillon Time Symposium
A Horological Tour of New England
21 Oct – Monday Program – Publick House, Sturbridge, MA
- 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Meet and Greet Welcome Reception (Heavy hors d’oeuvre, Cash Bar)
22 Oct – Tuesday Program – Publick House Lectures & Willard House and Clock Museum
- 8:00 am – Noon – Publick House – Light Breakfast, Lectures
- Noon – 1:15 pm – Publick House – Lunch – Deli Lunch Buffet
- 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Willard House and Clock Museum
- Includes transit time (bus leaves from Publick House, or 30 minute self-drive)
- 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Publick House – Reception with Cash bar, followed by Dinner Buffet (7:00 pm)
- Guest Speaker – Bob Frishman – The Mullikens: Massachusetts Clockmakers
23 Oct – Wednesday Program – Publick House Lectures & J. Cheney Wells Clock Collection at Old Sturbridge Village
- 8:00 am – Noon – Publick House – Light Breakfast, Lectures
- Noon – 1:30 pm – Lunch on your own
- 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Guided Tour of J. Cheney Wells Clocks Collection
- Tour Old Sturbridge Village on your own.
- 5 Minute Self drive to Old Sturbridge Village
- Dinner on your own
24 Oct – Thursday Program – American Clock and Watch Museum
- 9:00 am – 10:30 am – Travel to American Clock and Watch Museum in Bristol, CT.
- Bus leaves from Publick House or 70 minute self-drive
- 10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Guided and self-tour of museum
- 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm – Group lunch
- 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Bus returns to Publick House Symposium Ends
Extended Options Following the Time Symposium Program
- Friday – 25 October – Preview of Dan Horan’s Next Auction Items
- Time and location to be announced soon
- Saturday – 26 October – NE Chapter 8 Meeting in Auburn, MA – 20 min from Sturbridge.
- Time and location to be announced soon
- Russ Oechsle – Guest Speaker – Without Equal: The Clocks of Abner Jones of Bloomfield, New York (Alternate title: The Story of a Boy from Pittsfield, NH Who Makes Good as a Clockmaker in Upstate NY) The huge, flamboyant, unique clocks made by Abner Jones in the period 1818-41 have emerged over time as some of the most intriguing of all those made in upstate NY, while Jones, the man, has remained an enigma. This program, based on the 2022 NAWCC publication, will provide new findings and information so as to finally do this remarkable maker justice.