Life-long Hobby Brings Joy and Satisfaction to Craftsman

Read about how one reader has crafted over 400 wooden models of farm equipment, trucks, tractors, and much more.

By Submitted by Norman Riley
Published on April 29, 2021
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Norman Riley

My name is Norman Riley. I am 94 years old and I live at Charter Senior Living at Oak Openings in Sylvania, Ohio. I graduated from high school in central New York and went into the dairy business with my father and an older brother on a 195-acre farm in Sennett, New York. I also took up a woodworking hobby. Over the years, I have built well over 400 wooden models, mostly tractors and farm equipment, but also doll furniture, trucks and toys. I also developed a business repairing broken furniture for local antique dealers after my retirement from farming. My motto was, “If it is broken, I’ll fix it.”

I was also very active at the Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum in Auburn, New York, and served on the board for many years. Many of my models are on display there.

I moved to the Toledo, Ohio, area six years ago to be near my children. I set up a small woodshop in the garage of my condo at that time. Up until the time I moved to Charter, I donated wooden models and toys each Christmas that I had made through the year to a local television station’s Toys for Tots campaign.

Building these models has brought me great joy and satisfaction.

Norman Riley, Sylvania, Ohio

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