Norm Abram

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Norm Abram
Norm Abram and The New Yankee Workshop tries out a tool used in space while wearing gloves that are part of the spacewalking suits.jpg
Norm Abram, recording an episode of This Old House at Kennedy Space Center, 2000
Born
Norman L. Abram

(1949-10-03) October 3, 1949 (age 71)
Woonsocket, Rhode Island, US
EducationUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst (Class of 1972, no degree)
OccupationMaster carpenter, television host, writer
Spouse(s)
Laura Cone
​
(div. 1996)​
Elise Hauenstein
​
(m. 1999)​
Websitewww.newyankee.com
Signature
Norm Abram signature.svg

Norman L. Abram (born October 3, 1949) is an American carpenter, writer, and television host best known for his work on the PBS television programs This Old House and The New Yankee Workshop. He is a master carpenter, and has published several books and articles about the craft.

Early life and education[]

Abram was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island,[1] and raised in Milford, Massachusetts, where he attended high school.[2][3][4] His father was a carpenter, who taught his son many of his practical skills.[5] Norm first worked on a client's site at the age of 9, helping his father install hardwood floors.[6] He worked with his father during summer vacations in high school and college.[6]

Abram initially studied mechanical engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst,[4][5][7] where he became a brother of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity.[5] He found theoretical engineering courses to be uninteresting,[5][7] and switched to studying business administration.[4][7] He realized that he enjoyed practical hands-on work, and left UMass just short of degree.[5][7]

Career[]

Early career[]

After leaving college, Abram worked for three years for a multimillion-dollar New England-based construction firm,[4] and was rapidly promoted to a position as site supervisor.[5] In 1976, Abram went into business for himself, founding the general contracting firm Integrated Structures Inc. and operating it until 1989.[4] His first major independent project was building a general store on Nantucket.[5]

This Old House[]

Norm Abram (left), with HUD Deputy Secretary Roy Bernardi (center), and This Old House host Kevin O'Connor (right), at a renovation site in 2006

In 1979, Norm Abram took a construction job building a small barn/garage/toolshed/workshop in the backyard of television producer Russell Morash,[8] who had produced Julia Child's popular cooking program The French Chef for WGBH-TV in Boston. Impressed by Abram's small scrap pile[4] and efficient work habits, Morash invited Abram to help with the renovation of a rundown Victorian house in Boston's historic Dorchester neighborhood. A WGBH camera crew recorded the process for the first This Old House project, hosted by Bob Vila. Morash then asked Abram to appear as a regular on the This Old House series, and Abram has become a fixture on the show ever since.

The New Yankee Workshop[]

In 1988, Morash planned to launch a spinoff of This Old House called The New Yankee Workshop, featuring Abram. They needed a convenient place to videotape, and used the shop in the small building that Abram built in 1979 in Morash's backyard.[8] The shop's layout and equipment were expanded and adapted to match Abram's preferences, in a space measuring 36 by 26 feet (11.0 by 7.9 m).[9][10] The New Yankee Workshop was first aired in 1989 with Abram as the host.[2] The program showcased furniture or other projects over the course of one or more episodes, and emphasized classic, elegant designs, made using a combination of simple handtools and newer power tools and equipment.[2] The show aired for 21 seasons on PBS, then was suspended indefinitely as Abram decided to focus on other projects.[8][11][12]

Other projects[]

Abram is on the board of trustees of Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.[4] He delivered the 2001 commencement speech at the North Bennet Street School in Boston, which is renowned for its commitment to teaching craftsmanship.[4] He has also contributed to efforts to train younger students in the building trades, such as the Generation NEXT apprenticeship program.[8]

In a playful turn with his celebrity, Abram voiced the character of himself in the Freakazoid episode "Normadeus",[1] in which he is kidnapped by a villain to construct a special weapon out of wood. He had also appeared on Between the Lions and twice on Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (two WGBH programs); and starred in a series of Foot Locker commercials titled "House of Hoops". Abram appeared on Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman in the episode "This Old... Lemonade Stand". He also appeared in 2010 on an episode of the Food Network show Ace of Cakes titled "Indy, Ice and Improv".

Presentation style[]

Norm Abram is well-known for his soft-spoken, calm manner of explaining precise, efficient woodworking techiques. He is usually seen wearing a plaid shirt, a style that has become his trademark.[13][14][8] He begins his own shows with a reminder about personal safety, specifically highlighting the importance of wearing safety glasses.[15]

Abram emphasizes the importance of focusing attention when performing dangerous operations, such as cutting with a power saw. He avoids working when rushed, tired, distracted, or after drinking even small amounts of alcohol. He advises against misusing tools, or failing to sharpen them properly as needed. He is not afraid to talk to himself in the shop, reviewing carefully the next steps before he undertakes them.[12]

Awards and recognition[]

The American Academy of Ophthalmology awarded Norm Abram its first ever EyeSmart Distinguished Service Award on April 23, 2009. The award was presented for "his steadfast commitment to safety and the prevention of eye injuries".[16][17]

In 2018 Abram was selected for the Ken Burns Lifetime Achievement Award by the filmmaker who, with Old Sturbridge Village, gives the award to “individual[s] who [have] made a significant impact on the arts through a project that is relevant to the history Old Sturbridge Village works to preserve”.[18]

Personal life[]

Norm Abram has lived with his wife, Elise (a skilled potter),[12] in a custom modified-classic two-story Colonial, timber-framed home that he built in Carlisle, Massachusetts, with the assistance of his father and other professionals.[19] He wrote his book Norm Abram's New House (1995) based on his experiences planning and building the house.[20]

More recently, he bought a new old house in Rhode Island near the coast, where he plans to build a new woodworking shop, and he is also interested in learning shipbuilding.[12][19]

His fondness for plaid shirts is well-known and at times parodied,[2][4] a prime example being the character Al Borland on the 1991–1999 ABC sitcom Home Improvement, portrayed by Richard Karn.

Abram and his wife enjoy cooking and entertaining, visiting museums and art galleries, boating, kayaking, and fishing.[4]

Abram was previously married to Laura Cone (divorced in 1996),[15][7] with whom he has a daughter, Lindsey.[20][7]

Books and other publications[]

Norm Abram has authored eight books about carpentry:

  • The New Yankee Workshop. 1989. ISBN 9780316004534.
  • Classics From The New Yankee Workshop. 1990. ISBN 9780316004565.
  • Mostly Shaker From The New Yankee Workshop. 1992. ISBN 9780316004732.
  • The New Yankee Workshop: Outdoor Projects. 1994. ISBN 9780316004855.
  • Norm Abram's New House. 1995. ISBN 9780316004107.
  • Measure Twice, Cut Once. 1996. ISBN 9780316004947.
  • The New Yankee Workshop Kids' Stuff. 1998. ISBN 9780316004930.
  • Ask Norm. 2001. ISBN 9781929049356.

He has also contributed to Complete Remodeling. ISBN 9780376003003. and Complete Landscaping. ISBN 9780376003027., both published in 2004 by This Old House Books in conjunction with Sunset Books. Abram also serves on the editorial board of This Old House magazine, published by This Old House Ventures, Inc., also authoring the popular column, "Norm's Notebook".[4]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Smith, Andy. "Building a reputation: TV woodworking guru Norm Abram visits R.I. for a This Old House segment". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Boesel, Jim (1993-04-01). "Norm Abram: Carpenter Turned Furnituremaker". FineWoodworking. Taunton Press. pp. 46–51. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  3. ^ Boesel, Jim (March–April 1993). "Norm Abram: Carpenter Turned Furnituremaker". Fine Woodworking. Taunton Press. 99: 46–51.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k "Norm Abram". This Old House. 2020-01-17. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Wolfe, Leslie (1998). "Hands-on kind of guy". UMass Magazine. University of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Pratt, Mark (Jan 7, 2008). "He's got it nailed". Milford Daily News. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Doten, Patti (Sep 13, 2005). "Norm Abram seeks to nail down more free time". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Publishing. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Natt, Amy (2017-05-24). "Carolina Conversations With This Old House Master Carpenter Norm Abram". Aging Outreach Services. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  9. ^ Harder, Nick (Feb 21, 1992). "The House Norm Built: Viewers of His Hit Show Have Come to Trust the Steady Presence of Master Carpenter Norm Abram". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  10. ^ Rice, Marjorie (1998-03-19). "Norm Abram does it himself". SFGATE. Hearst. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  11. ^ Eide, Gina (2009-10-16). "New Yankee Workshop Ends, a New Show Begins". FineWoodworking. Taunton Press. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Kolle, Jefferson (2020-05-29). "Norm Abram: Life After 'New Yankee'". Popular Woodworking Magazine. Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  13. ^ Wood, Kate (2019-08-26). "The Tartans of Norm". This Old House. This Old House Ventures, LLC. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  14. ^ Carter, Maria (2018-01-23). "'This Old House' Launched Home Improvement Television As We Know It". Country Living. Hearst. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b "Norm Abram Biography". IMDB.
  16. ^ "American Academy of Ophthalmology Honors PBS Master Carpenter Norm Abram for His Commitment to Eye Safety". May 19, 2011. Archived from the original on February 12, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  17. ^ "Video of the AAO Eyesmart Distinguished Service Award Ceremony". May 19, 2011.
  18. ^ "Norm Abram to receive Ken Burns Lifetime Achievement Award". Telegram & Gazette. Worcester, Mass. January 16, 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b "Norm Abram on His Newish Old House". Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, Inc. 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b Rhodes, Elizabeth (Jun 11, 1995). "This New House -- TV Host Norm Abram Moves From Renovating Old Houses To Building His From Scratch". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2021-06-26.

External links[]

External audio
audio icon Ep. 28: Norm Abram, Clever Podcast, January 7, 2018
Guest on podcast; discusses his upbringing and early interest in woodworking.
Library resources
By Norm Abram
Retrieved from ""