Moran Museum to hold Centennial Celebration

H. Clay Aalders
Industry News
·6 Comments··30 views

This Saturday, May 31st, the William F. Moran Museum and Foundation are having a birth-anniversary celebration for the man on what would have been his 100th Birthday.

Museum tours, blacksmith demonstrations, and cake. I wonder what they will use to cut it?

You can find out more about the Moran Foundation at their website:

https://www.williammoranmuseum.com/

 

For up to date information on the Centennial Celebration itself, their facebook page is a little more nimble:

https://www.facebook.com/TheWilliamFMoranJrMuseumFoundation

 

I am including the flyer again since it cuts off as the featured image.

I would be amazed if Hocky will not be in attendance.

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H. Clay Aalders

H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

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6 Responses

  1. The “100th Birthday Cake” was cut with a ST-24 and it was delicious! This celebration of Bill’s arrival on Earth in 1925 (“The Roaring 20’s”) was a ton of fun and well-attended by people of all ages. Forging was held in Bill’s original shop (aka the “Forge”, Est. 1960) where knifemakers: Steve Nuckels, Mike Deener and Gordon Connor awed the crowd with their hammering of hot steel! In the “Moran Bladesmithing Academy” (Est. 2022), Ed Clarke, JS/ABS and, other bladesmiths showed their prowess crafting knife blades on the anvil; and, with the power-hammers. Robert Stumphy demonstrated the fine art of silver-wire inlay at his table in the “Forge”. One hundred of Bill Moran’s knives were on display. Bill began his knifemaking in the 1930’s and continued onto his passing in February of 2006. I was one of many volunteers who greeted visitors. My duty station was on the second floor of the “Forge” This area contains Bill’s metalwork sculptures, e.g. Sword in the Stone, Boot Hill; and, a dozen or more walking sticks. His leather-working apparatus for making sheaths is there with the handcrafted tools he used to create basswood-lined sheaths. Resting in a corner is the almost six-foot long broadsword which Bill forged. It is a one-of-a-kind! As “Three Dog Night” sang in “Joy to the World”, . . I had a mighty fine time!!
    Next up for the “Moran Foundation” is the June 14th “1st Annual Knife & Artisan Show” at the Middletown Fire Hall. Please visit http://www.williammoranmuseum.com for details on this event.

    Reply

  2. HOCKY WILL BE THERE!! I met “Bill” in the summer of ’68 when I was fifteen. My friend, Jim, and I rode our coaster-brake bicycles to Middletown, Maryland via the original national pike U.S. 40, now known as Alt. 40. About a 18-mile ride through Boonsboro and over South Mountain and into the Middletown valley. Went up Braddock Heights and turned around. We saw “Bill” smoking a pipe at the corner of his forge with his dog laying near him. Of course, we stopped. He spoke with us and we went into his forge. We watched him hammer hot steel into a knife for about thirty minutes. I met “Bill” again in 1998 at the “Chesapeake Knife Club” show in Timonium, Maryland. That was a “WOW” moment when he let me hold a $9K bowie he had made for a Texan . . . From 1998 until his passing in February 2006, I would often take Alt. 40 off I-70 westbound as I returned to Hagerstown from my work with the State of Maryland. If I saw smoke rising from the chimney at the Forge, I would stop and visit Bill. These moments in time were special to me. I have my great friend, “Barney”(Aubrey G. Barnes, MS) who knew Bill for over fifty years, who tells me stories about his friendship with “Bill”. The legacy of Bill Moran will endure through the “Moran Foundation” . . . Oh, I believe the birthday cake will be cut with a ST-24!!

    Reply

    1. shall i take that to mean there was a thirty year lapse between your first meeting and the reunion? i’m betting you pedaled over there more times before seeing him at chesapeake.
      speaking of chessy, they were one of many hunting breeds my marine (korea) bro raised adjacent to the dove coop. the first time i visited (fam road trip, ’60s) he was in maryland, not sure where. 2a restrictions sent him scurrying to glenmore, penn. where he passed last fall at 91 yrs young.
      it’s also a kick ass michener novel.

      Reply

      1. “Hocky: A Timeline” – Summer of ’68 met Bill Moran. 1968-71-High School; 1971-’72 University of Maryland, . . . working a federal job; Selective Service lottery “7” avoided going to ‘Nam by enlisting in the Navy Nuclear Power Program. 1972-1982 active duty. Honorably discharged in January 1982 and started civilian life at “Baltimore Gas and Electric” (BG&E) Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. Married in October 1982. Transferred to BG&E “Fossil Energy Division” and moved to Baltimore County in 1984. First son born in October-1986; Second son in February-1988; Third son in June-1989; Fourth son in January-1991; Fifth son in January-1995; and Sixth son in 1997. (Note: I left BG&E in 1996 and moved to Hagerstown in December-1996).
        Post-BG&E, I worked as the Risk Manager for the State of Maryland, Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. This job gave me an opportunity to travel throughout Maryland . . . there were nearly thirty “prisons” from the Eastern Shore of Maryland to the western counties. I began meeting custom knife makers across the State. I attended regional knife shows and was bitten by the bug! From 1998 to the present time, I have enjoyed every moment of being a knife enthusiast!

        Reply

        1. my boy was born same year as your last. well into your forties, respect. we next had a girl and stopped. i’ll bet your wife takes care of those nieces.

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