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We have a brief history of our club.
Two friends, Charles Ehlers and John D. Wilber Sr., started the Greater Cincinnati Woodcarvers Club in the spring of 1966.
John, a youth program director for the Recreation Commission, began whittling as a boy. Charlie had an interest in carving.
After Charlie saw a carving display in a Clifton Avenue drug store window, he talked to John about carving. They contacted
several friends for a carving get-together at the Fairview Community Center, where John worked. The "Club" grew
in numbers after Owen Finsen, the art reporter for "The Cincinnati Enquirer", published an article about the young
club and their carvings. In the early days, the meetings were very informal and were held with everyone working on carving.
They chose the name Greater Cincinnati Carvers Club and elected John Wilber as First President. In 1967, Charlie Ehlers
became president in April 1969 and the meetings became more formal. The first newsletter and membership roster was mailed
to the members. At this time, the name was changed from "Greater Cincinnati Woodcarvers Club" to "Greater Cincinnati
Chapter of the National Woodcarvers Association".
In April 1972, thanks to Doc Kessler's suggestion and approval at the July meeting, the name was changed to Cincinnati
Carvers Guild, which is still used to this day. The Guild is one of the oldest woodcarving clubs in the United States.
Volunteer Time: A Way to secure the future of carving. In addition to creating beautiful works of art out of wood, many
of our members also volunteer to do carving demonstrations at local parks and museums.
They do this out of a genuine love of carving and the desire to show that woodcarving can become a lifelong hobby that
anyone can participate in at some level.
Although the mission of the guild is to encourage and preserve the art of woodcarving in Southwestern Ohio, its achievements
within the community are noteworthy. Each and every member has, in some way, helped with the guild's mission.
They may have told someone about the guild who later came to one of our meetings and subsequently joined. They may have
volunteered at one of our many events by doing a demonstration or selling raffle tickets. Not only that, but they have carved
an item and brought it to the meeting for "Show and Tell", or donated it to the club's annual show. Members have
placed pieces in one of the libraries around town, helping to promote woodcarving, our guild, and the annual show. Some members
contribute by making telephone calls or by helping to organize one of our many guild projects. There seems to be an endless
list of what our members accomplish within the guild and in our communities through our guild.
Yes, the CCG is strong and vibrant. We welcome visitors and extend an invitation to anyone wishing to become a woodcarver.
Join and grow with us, you'll be glad you did.
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