Chapter 136E

10/11/2006

Ch 136E Road Trip                                                    Bourdon Boiler Works                       

Volunteer Road Trip: VT & NH

Terry Olmsted

Ok, next day it’s over the Ottauqueechee River and through the covered bridge we go to Don Bourdon’s Boiler Works in Woodstock. Don has been involved with Stanley Steamers most of his life and is well know world wide for his restoration of Steamers. He owns many himself, does work for several clients, and has many projects in various states of repair. Craftsmanship again is key here. With wooden bodies of ash and basswood, Don has acquired many woodworking skills to go along with the boiler making, other metal work and painting.

Don might be the President of the Stanley Steamer Club except for the fact there is no club. They don’t need no stinking club. An independent lot, these steamers. I guess if you are the kind of person willing to wait 20 minutes for your boiler to heat up before you can drive away, you look at the world differently than the common man does. They are a close knit and proud group as there are only about 500 of these Stanleys in the world.

He has no website, and tries to stay under the radar although it’s not working. One client tracked him down from Ketchikan, Alaska and he has a regular and close following in England. Before we left, we toured his Maple Sugar house and bought some of his product. Couldn’t go to the Amelia Island Concours- conflicts with sap season in the springtime.

The Museum Staff go out of their way to make these wonderful trips happen for volunteers. We are warmly received and treated like VIPS. It is such a nice opportunity to experience a part of life that would not otherwise be possible for most people.