As wood shavings fell from the woodcarver’s blade, a small angel began to take shape from the block of basswood. Joseph Yurcak, 89, worked carefully as he smoothed the figure’s head at his worktable in his apartment at The Orchards at Southington. When complete after hours of painstaking work, he will begin his next project – wherever his heart leads him.
Yurcak taught himself woodworking when he retired in 1995. At the Mulberry Street home where he and his wife, Lorraine, raised their children, he had a workshop filled with dozens of tools, some of which he made himself. The house – which he designed – was filled with examples of his artistry – a secretary desk, a dry sink, a kitchen set, storage trunks, puzzle boxes and much more. Later in life when they moved to Spring Lake Village, many of the heirlooms found new places in their home.
In January 2019, Yurcak realized it was time to consider a senior living community. He decided on The Orchards at Southington, a 90-apartment independent and assisted living community located at 34 Hobart St. No longer able to have his own workshop, he now only whittles. His apartment is accented with dozens of his whimsical figures – a pelican, a squirrel, golfers, horses. On his desk is a lamp he made from a bugle – it reminds him of his military service in the U.S. Marines.
But his masterpieces are his construction vehicles – An oak Mack truck that took him six months to complete, a loader, excavator and a bulldozer that took him countless hours to painstakingly create the treads, each meticulously doweled. Many he has given to his family members. Others are regularly featured at The Orchards’ Residents Expo alongside amazing quilts, needlework and paintings. The Orchards encourages residents to continue their favorite pursuits and try new experiences.
“I like woodworking – you use your hands and your head,” he explained. In spite of many requests, he has never sold his creations, including the construction vehicles. They are a reminder of his 30 years in service to the town, first with the Southington Parks Department and then as superintendent of the Highway Department. He still recalls Storm Larry that in 1978 shut down the state and kept his department working straight for days. During his tenure, he saw Southington’s roadways grow from 135 miles to 200 miles. He and his 30-man crew repaired and repaved roads in the good weather and plowed and maintained the heavy equipment in the winter.
Yurcak, who is a grandfather and great-grandfather, enjoys living at The Orchards, catching up with people he has known for years and making new friends at events and activities. The staff is helpful and friendly, he said. “They are the greatest bunch of people.” He is looking forward to seeing former classmates in the fall when the 70th reunion of the Lewis High School Class of 1950 will be held. And as long as his hands are steady, he plans to keep whittling.
The Orchards at Southington offers independent and assisted living, and is a not for profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Services. For more information about The Orchards at Southington, visit http://southingtonorchards.org.