We have the opportunity to meet some of the best people at Bailey Wood Products! Yet, few if any can match today’s featured woodworker, Lenny McHugh, for sheer inspiration as one of life’s overcomers. Lenny McHugh continues to use his talents and available faculties to bring to reality his creative vision.
Born sighted, Lenny gradually lost his sight to Retinitis Pigmentosa. He first became interested woodworking in his early school years while he still had some vision. It was, however, not until 40 years later that he started woodcrafting in earnest.
A computer systems analyst for PennDot before he was forced to retire for other medical reasons in 1999, he was one of the first to use assistive devices to “read” the code he was no longer able to see on his monitor. Out of necessity, he learned to mentally visualize complicated computer code in his mind, a talent he uses when he creates his wood projects. Completely blind, McHugh, 72, now relies on talking tools to guide him, saying that he measures many times in his head before he makes that first cut. When others could have fallen into despair.
Recently, Lenny was featured on Eyewitness news in an interview by Kelly Choate. In this amazing story, Lenny had made a beautiful clock that he had donated to to his church Trinity United Church of Christ in Pottsville. The church had a large oil bill and was holding an auction in order to pay down their debt. The goal was to raise $1000, the amount raised from the auction of the clock alone was $1052.
CLICK HERE to see this wonderful interview on Eyewitness News. To read the front page article in the Pottsville Republican Herald, scroll down below the picture of the clock.
Blind Man Donates Clock to Church
BY AMY MARCHIANO / PUBLISHED: APRIL 9, 2019 Pottsville Republican Herald.
POTTSVILLE — Trinity United Church of Christ members are counting on a clock donated for a fundraiser to help pay winter heating bills. The public has the chance to buy tickets to win the walnut and Western curly maple wooden clock, which was made by a church member and city resident who is blind.
This isn’t the first time Lenny McHugh, 72, has made something for his church or others. He’s made several other clocks, a planter table and wishing well. “I don’t think I am doing anything different than anyone else. I’m just doing it differently,” McHugh said Monday.
Tickets [were] sold at $2 each or three for $5…A drawing for the winner [was] set for noon Thursday at the church. The church, which has about 50 members, has a fundraiser each year for different purposes; past efforts funded hymnals and windows. The heating bill is high this year, so it was chosen. The amount of the bill was not provided.
McHugh started making the clock in October and finished in late November. He uses power tools “very carefully” when he begins his labor of love. He used a jointer, router, drill press, various sanders and a variety of electric saws to complete the clock. He also uses a talking digital angle finder, which measures angles, and a tape measure that speaks the length of measurements. “I have a lot of respect for a saw,” McHugh said. He isn’t afraid of the blade because of safety features. “I’ve had a table saw for 20 or 30 years,” he said, adding he discarded an old one because it was too often out of alignment, and replaced it.
McHugh uses a plastic push stick as a guide that helps push the wood into the saw. He does have a bit of apprehension about the saw hitting a knot and kicking the wood back. In fact, he’s been hit before by a piece of wood, but suffered no serious injuries.
McHugh said he visualizes cutting the wood in his mind before he does it. McHugh has a hereditary condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa, which leads to damage to the eye. “I just gradually lost my sight,” he said, though even as a child he had vision problems. While he does the cutting of the wood himself, he doesn’t glue, paint or stain the pieces, which in the case of the clock totaled 14. Usually, his wife, Karen, does that; but, for this clock a neighbor helped. The fundraiser organizer, said the church appreciates the donation of McHugh’s time and talent. The goal for the fundraiser is $1,000 and, of that, $650 has been raised.
To read the story as it is printed in the Republican Herald please click on this link- https://www.republicanherald.com/news/church-hopes-clock-made-by-blind-man-will-pay-heating-bills-1.2467814
The paper offers 24 hours passes to anyone interested for $1.
Please visit Lenny McHugh’s inspirational and humorous website. http://www.LennyMcHugh.com – There is a very extensive resource list for the blind. Lenny McHugh is International Brotherhood of Magicians member #43990.
