Above, Ike works in his Falling Waters workshop. Below are some examples of his work.

Artist Statement: I was born in the Shenandoah Valley, at Woodstock, Va., and through high school lived mostly in the Virginia hamlets of Bowman’s Crossing (near Edinburg) and Hamburg (near Mount Jackson).

Following a tour in the Air Force, I married my wife, Sue, and hired on with the Louisville & Nashville RR in Louisville, Ky. My 30-year railroad career had us moving from Louisville, to Jacksonville, FL, Baltimore, Md. and back to Jacksonville. I retired from the Railroad December 31, 1999 and moved to our present location in Falling Waters.

I have been into woodworking since I was old enough to sneak into my Dad’s toolbox and mess up his fine chisels. In the late 70s, I purchased my first major piece of equipment, a Sears 10” Radial Arm Saw, which I still utilize today. Over the years, I have managed to accumulate just about all the tools necessary to butcher up any of my projects. And, to date, I still have all my fingers and thumbs attached.

My interest lies in making furniture (Shaker style is my favorite) and other “things” from wood. For the most part, I rely on dowels, mortise & tenons, dovetails or reinforced miter joinery, along with glue to form the wood bond. Finishing is generally accomplished with hand rubbed oils, wax or Milk Paint.

Memberships: Heritage Craft Center of the Eastern Panhandle, Martinsburg, W.Va., and the Lost River Craft Cooperative, Lost River, W.Va.

E-mail: woodbutc@comcast.net

Address: 341 Hadley Dr, Falling Waters, WV