Popular Woodworking 2005-08 № 149, страница 37

One of his first contracting jobs was building a barn on Russell Morash's property. During this time Morash, a producer and director for WGBH, was busy creating television's first "how-to" home-improvement series, "This Old House." Morash was impressed with Abram, his work and the small size of his scrap pile.

"He was quiet, effective, uncomplaining and met deadlines," Morash says of Abram. "He was also unmarried and had no life," Morash adds, laughing. So, in the winter of 1978, Morash invited Abram to help renovate the TV series' first on-air project, a rundown Victorian in Boston's historic Dorchester section. Abram agreed.

Abram hoped his family members might catch him walking in the background, carrying a ladder. But he proved to be too good a carpenter. It wasn't long before he was named master carpenter on the show and Morash attached a microphone to his flannel shirt.

"Norm was nervous as hell," Morash says. "But he was good - credible, believable and compelling."

Several years later, with "This Old House" still widely popular, Morash thought TV audiences also would be interested in a series on woodworking - hence, "The New Yankee Workshop." But why would Morash choose Abram - a carpenter - to host a how-to TV series on building furniture? Morash, a self-proclaimed "wannabe carpenter who built the occasional nightstand," says the thought of a carpenter not being able to build fine furniture never really occurred to him.

"I never thought he couldn't do something," Morash says. "In his very quiet way, he would figure it out."

And Abram did figure it out. "The New Yankee Workshop" recently concluded its 17th season. Abram also is one of the two original cast members still appearing on "This Old House," which recently celebrated its 25th season as a nationally aired show.

A Familiar Woodshop

Because of the show's success, TV viewers already are familiar with the layout of Abram's shop. But here are a few things you might not know: Most of the lumber is stored in an outside building. Finishing takes place in a separate room, which has a doorway leading to a room filled with gardening tools. This room used to be the utility shed for the show "The

Victory Garden." (The grounds surrounding the shop used to be the setting for the show.) The shop has an indoor staircase leading to a second floor, which is where Morash's office is located, as well as the bathroom.

Although Morash owns the building, it's

Abram's primary woodshop. While Abram has a small shop in the basement of his own home, he does all of his serious woodworking here. Retired machines and tools typically go to Morash's personal woodshop, which is located on his property in Nantucket, Mass.

The 36' x 26' saltbox-shaped shop doesn't look like a TV set except for a few camera lights hung from the ceiling. At right you can see the back wall of the shop. The stairs lead to Executive Producer and Director Russell Morash's office and a bathroom.

If you were to walk through the sliding barn door, this is what you would see to your left. Many of Abram's machines are on mobile bases so they can be easily tucked into a corner when not in use.

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