The Appalachian Heritage Woodshop®

In 2014 Jerill Vance had an idea for a TV show that would combine Appalachian history and furniture. After much thought, discussion, trial and error learning process and hard work, the six episodes of Season 1 aired in October 2018 on West Virginia PBS (WPBY). The Covid 19 pandemic delayed Season 2 but the 13 episodes began airing in July 2021. Thirteen episodes of Season 3 are in production and will air in Summer 2022.

In 2009, after more than 32 years in the chemical industry, I left and obtained an Associate of Applied Science degree in Fine Woodworking from New River Community and Technical College in Lewisburg, WV.

In 2011 I obtained my business license to build furniture as well as teach woodworking. Utilizing a grant from the WV Commission on the Arts I built a wood drying kiln in 2012 and was also juried into Tamarack in Beckley, WV. I initiated a woodworking program and taught for a non-profit organization in the Kentucky prison system. I began demonstrating woodworking with hand tools at Heritage Farm and Village Museum in Huntington, WV in 2014. I began The Appalachian Heritage Woodshop project in 2017 and now share my love of furniture with others through video on WV PBS stations and YouTube.

I am now able to enjoy the profession of custom designing and building furniture, as well as, teaching woodworking to others.

                  Senior Project

 

 

New River Community and Technical College is West Virginia’s newest addition to their college system. In the Fall of 2007 they established the Fine Woodworking program with the assistance of Pocahontas Woods, a local woodworking training and business incubation facility. Together they offer a two year Associate of Applied Science degree program, a one year certificate program and a skill set program. These programs began under the leadership of fellow SAPFM member John Friel. In the Spring of 2009 John left to pursue other interests and John Wesley Williams came aboard to continue the instruction.

In December of 2010 Jerill Vance was the first to complete the AAS degree program.