USS CONSTELLATION

A 2007 Project by Chesapeake Woodturners

In March 2007, Temple Blackwood and Allen Alexopoulos were contacted by the USS Constellation Museum officials requesting help. At the March 17 meeting of the Chesapeake Woodturners, the members voted to take on the project and began to form the turning teams. The Constellation turning job was 100% voluntary for members of the Chesapeake Woodturners. The museum provided all required turning stock. We specified the sizes of the blanks needed for each of the pieces. The small spindles were turned out of poplar. The belaying pins were traditionally turned out of exotic hardwoods like purpleheart and used as a universal tool for levering; tying off halyards, sheets and lines; and a host of other general tasks common aboard a large wooden sailing vessel. The museum needed about 175 belaying pins and around 300 small spindles with the first group of 20 of each due in just a few months. We created multiple story-sticks, a turning calendar for individuals and teams, and the first turning sessions began in early June of 2007. On May 1, 2007, the Chesapeake Woodturners delivered the finished belaying pins and Ward Room spindles to the project site.

Project Participants:  

Temple Blackwood (project coordinator)

John Abt    
Gene Adcock    
Allen Alexopulos    
Doug Bartos     
Alex Blackwood    
Jeff Bridges
George De La Grange    
Chuck Engstrom
Charlie Hutchinson    
Bill Kost    
Margaret Lospinuso    
Jim Luck
Tim Moore    
Lou Rudinski    
Ted Rudie    
Bob Smith    
John Styer    
Halsey Tribble