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                             Feb. 2, 2001

Crafty

Stories and photos by Pvt. 2 Nate Jastrzemski
Staff Writer
  

Hidden behind West Point’s Post Office is building 648 -- home of the West Point Auto/Crafts shop for more than 30 years, and the place to fulfill your every crafty desire.

The shop is equipped with all the necessary tools for auto repair, woodworking, painting, pottery or just about anything you can think of, said Arts and Crafts Director Michael Mullins.

"The multicrafts shop has a darkroom for photography, pottery wheels and a kiln and tools for any number of hobbies including ceramics, stained glass, quilting, rubber stamping, engraving and even working with balloons," he said.

The shop offers classes on weekends and weeknights. Many classes charge a fee, Mullen explained, but that’s usually to pay for the cost of materials.

"We have classes on quilting and painting eggs, all sorts of stuff. If someone wants to do something new, great; we’ll try anything once," he added.

Retired Lt. Col. Kurt Brewer, a resident of Highland Falls, spent many years stationed at West Point and has been a craft shop regular since it opened.

"We have a long history of association with this shop -- I was a plebe here when I started woodworking and my son processed through here and now he’s a dentist in Highland Falls. Our family has two generations of crafters here," Brewer said.

He said his son usually did work in the auto garage, where he restored a 1926 Model-T Ford in the 1970s.

"The purpose of the auto shop is not for us to do work on your car," said Mullins, "it’s so we can teach you how to work on your car yourself -- and we have all the tools you could need."

He said they can order most parts within half an hour, and the staff will gladly teach crafters how to perform the tasks. The auto shop is also capable of performing inspections and tests, Mullins added.

The shop is open to all military members -- cadets, active-duty, Reserve or retired -- and their families.