Ray Freden, a 70-year resident of Marshfield’s Seaview Village, has been in the wood business for over six decades. He entered the furniture and cabinetmaking trade on January 2, 1956.
His employer was Franklin Hatch of North Marshfield, a self-taught furniture maker. Frank had been associated with the lumber trade, working for his father, F. Decker Hatch, a lifelong sawmill owner. Ray spent six years as an apprentice with Franklin.
Soon after losing his friend and employer in a tragic accident in 1961, Ray opened his own business making Colonial-style pine furniture for the next fifteen years.
The mid-1970s oil crises created a recession that was hard on small businesses. Ray decided to leave his trade for a profession: vocational teacher/instructor in cabinet and furniture making. That required vocational teaching certification. Two years at Fitchburg State College earned him enough credits to be hired on a waiver by Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Another two years of part-time classes completed his certification. He taught for twelve years.
During those twelve years, Ray taught and prepared eight talented students for Vocational Industrial Clubs of America competitions. Four won gold medals and went on to the national competitions; three won silver and one won bronze. In the same period, Ray developed and proctored the competency test for cabinetmaking teacher certification through Fitchburg State College.
In 1988 Ray was RIF’d (reduction in force). Last hired was first to go.
Ray had started carving shorebird and other waterfowl decoys in 1983. Losing a job he loved was a hard blow, but his carvings were popular and selling well. His wife and strongest supporter scheduled art and craft shows and secured wholesale accounts.
From 1988 on, Ray has been a self-employed woodcarver.
Ray and his wife, Carol, decided to move to a quieter place. They settled in Downeast Maine. Leaving the village he had loved for 70 years—an 1820 antique Cape, friends, family, and familiar haunts—was a large adjustment. A newer contemporary Cape on Cobscook Bay was a welcome relief from maintenance.
After a cup of coffee, his wife’s fresh blueberry muffin, and a morning view of Cobscook Bay, Ray makes his way to his shop.
At 88, he works on carvings up to six hours a day.
He supplies gift shops from Eastport, Maine, to Mystic, Connecticut.
Here he is cutting the corners off a Canada goose body.
Ray can be contacted at Ray@WRayFreden.com