Willard Clock Museum awards first Gow scholarship

GRAFTON - As part of a longterm plan to support the study of horology — or the study of time and timekeepers — and aid those working toward a professional career in clockmaking, the family of former Willard House and Clock Museum conservator David G. Gow and the museum have announced the first Gow scholarship recipient.

Parker Boughton of Des Moines, Iowa, was among nearly 20 applicants competing for the scholarship. Parker studied conservation at Saint Ambrose University, and he was chosen among a diverse pool of applicants.

“I like clocks because of their varied technical repair and restoration challenges, the innovation that’s inherent in these machines and the opportunity to understand the engineering intent of the clockmaker,” Boughton said.

“We are delighted to celebrate Parker as our first Gow scholarship recipient,” said Callum Gow of the scholarship review board. “I anticipate that Parker will be the first in a long line of Gow scholarship winners over many years to come.”

The scholarship is open to any student based in the United States that has begun the journey into the profession of clockmaking. As part

Shrewsbury School Committee approves changes to school start times for 2023-2024 school year

By Evan Walsh

Contributing Writer

SHREWSBURY - After months of research, discussion, review and public input, the School Committee unanimously voted to change school start times for the 2023-2024 academic year.

On Jan. 25, the committee approved a modified version of one of the options before them. According to the plan, the high school day will span from 7:55 a.m. to 2:20 p.m., the middle school day from 8:35 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the elementary school day from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This option originally planned for the elementary school day to end at 3:40 p.m., but after feedback from elementary school parents, the plan was modified to let school out earlier.

In its recommendation to the Shrewsbury School Committee, the Sleep Health Advisory Committee noted several benefits of the modified this plan, including a “lengthened morning sleep opportunity” for high school students.

The plan also preserves the order of the current school dismissal, maintaining the basic schedule that has allowed high schoolers to provide childcare to younger siblings after school. In addition, the modified plan would streamline the bussing schedule without increasing district transportation costs.

Although the five school committee members voted to change school start times, all were sympathetic to the community’s concerns.

“Any decision we make is not going to be ideal; there’s not one universal answer,” School Committee member Sandra Fryc noted. “[But the change] clearly aligns with our strategic priority of enhanced well-being for all.”

Member Jon Wensky said that although he has “gone back and forth on the different options,” he supports the modified plan because his “primary focus is the success, well-being, and health of the students in this district.” of it, $5,000 will be awarded and the money may be used to attend advanced courses provided by various clock and watch making schools across the country.

Applications for the 2023 scholarship are due by Nov. 4. Willard’s Executive Director Robert Cheney said that the current career path of museum-level clock conservation isn’t well-defined, noting that formal apprenticeship programs are scarce and any funding is difficult to obtain.

“Willard hopes to provide improvements on both fronts,” Cheney said.

To learn more about the Gow Memorial Scholarship for Horology, go to willardhouse. org/david-gow-scholarship.

To donate to the Gow scholarship, you can call the museum at 508-839-3500, mail a check to the museum, or hit the DONATION button on the Willard House and Clock Museum homepage button at willardhouse.org. Please indicate the donation is for the Gow Scholarship.