Goldsberry honored at PCM open house

Friday, June 19, 2009
Robert Goldsberry built this replica of the farm he owned until the 1960s. It is hand carved, including cedar shingles, weather vanes and all the barnyard animals. He donated the farm to the Putnam County Museum where it is on display.

Putnam County resident Robert Goldsberry was honored during an open house featuring his hand carved works Thursday afternoon at the Putnam County Museum.

Goldsberry's grandfather began giving him carving lessons when he was 10 years old. He has been carving toys every since.

"That barn use to hold 100 tons of loose hay," explained Goldsberry. "I carved the whole thing by hand and even made all these little pigs."

The farm is situated in the large replica of the Sutherlin round barn built earlier this spring in the museum.

Along with Goldsberry's farm, there are a number of other carved items including ducks, toys and birds.

"My basement floor use to be covered with 200-300 toys I was working on or had made," he said.

Horizon Hospice Care, Mill Pond Healthcare Campus and the Never Too Late program sponsored the open house.

"We wanted to do something special for Bob. We knew he loved to carve things and had given the farm to the Museum, so we were able to set up this open house for him," explained Jayne Harwood with Mill Pond.

Goldsberry was delighted to talk about his farm, both the original one and the wooden carved replica. He and his wife Bessie lived on the farm from the time of their marriage in October 1938 until 1962.

He sold the farm and moved to Greencastle where he worked for Farm Bureau. In 1965 he built Sunset Manor Nursing Home.

He recalled that living on the farm could sustain his family then.

"Now farms are much larger and highly specialized," he said.

Woodworker Michael Van Pelt was on hand giving demonstrations.

"Bob can't carve things anymore, but we wanted people to have some idea of what he did, so Horizon was able to have Michael come today," said Harwood.

Van Pelt teaches woodworking at his retreat and school located in Cloverdale. He uses modern methods and equipment to create all types of furniture and wooden accessories from benches to bowls.

Numerous people stopped in to visit with Goldsberry during the two-hour event. Goldsberry can be reached at Mill Pond Healthcare Campus in Greencastle.

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  • CONGRATS MR. GOLDSBERRY, WONDERFUL WORK!!!

    -- Posted by skittlebug on Fri, Jun 19, 2009, at 9:53 AM
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