History in the Making

Something lovely before the long weekend!

Local woodworker and designer Arnold London arrived at Town Hall this week with a guitar unlike any other, an instrument shaped not just by skill, but by story. Its body was crafted from a Black Locust tree once rooted on Town property that became structurally unsound, now transformed into something vibrant and alive again.

For Arnold, this is more than woodworking. It’s about listening to the material. “Old wood sounds different,” he explained while strumming a few warm chords for us. “It has a different vibration.” And this guitar carries more history than most.

Accents from Oak Island bring a touch of local legend. Hemlock, buried underground since 1795. Inside, the guitar’s bracing is made from reclaimed wooden window frames once part of St. James Anglican Church in Mahone Bay, salvaged during renovations and given a second life.

It’s a perfect example of sustainability, where reuse isn’t just practical, but deeply creative. Instead of discarding materials tied to local history, Arnold weaves them together into something lasting. He delights in identifying wood species, studying their grain and their quirks, and imagining what they might become.

Arnold welcomes visitors to his workshop at 92 Keddy Bridge Road where you’ll find both craftsmanship and conversation waiting.
​
In a world increasingly focused on sustainability, Arnold London offers a simple, but powerful reminder that sometimes the most meaningful way forward is to carry the past with us.
​