NORTH GRAFTON, MA— The Willard House & Clock Museum is planning a major expansion with the development of a 10,000-square-foot facility named the Charles N. Grichar Center, as reported by the Worcester Business Journal (WBJ).
The new facility will be a transformational addition to the museum, which is home to one of the world’s premier collections of early American clocks. The project follows a landmark $15 million pledge from trustee and longtime supporter Charles N. Grichar, a gift announced in April 2024 and described by WBJ as one of the largest in the museum’s history.
According to a WBJ report by Mica Kanner-Mascolo, the Charles N. Grichar Center will be designed to house the largest known collection of clocks from the famed Willard family and E. Howard & Co., along with more than 200 new horological objects, including watches and rare ephemera.
In addition to gallery space, the new center will include a conservation workshop, classrooms, a reception area, and a horological library containing over 8,000 volumes. A multi-use room will support events and educational programming, furthering the museum’s mission to preserve and promote horology—the study of timekeeping.
Construction is slated to begin following Grichar’s passing, according to Robert Gierschick, director of development for the museum, in comments shared with WBJ. Until then, the museum is working to meet the conditions of Grichar’s gift, which includes raising $6 million by 2028. This is an increase from an earlier $3 million goal, a shift Gierschick explained in detail to WBJ.
So far, the museum has raised more than $4.2 million through donations, grants, land sales, and pledges, WBJ reported.
“We are honored by the trust and generosity of these institutions and benefactors,” said Robert Cheney, executive director of the museum, in the announcement. “Their support allows us to expand our collection, teach students about horology more effectively, and make local history, art and related culture accessible to all.”
As further noted by WBJ, the public will get a first look at the center’s design at a public unveiling and open house on May 10 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., where guests can meet Grichar, museum trustees, and the project’s architect.
Founded in 1971, the Willard House & Clock Museum ranked as the 34th most-visited tourist attraction in Central Massachusetts in 2023, according to WBJ’s Research Department, welcoming just over 2,000 visitors.
As reported by WBJ, the expansion represents a bold step into the future for one of the region’s most historically significant institutions, promising to further cement its role as a center for horological education, research, and preservation.
