“Around 1890, a North American black walnut sapling came into being. Whether nature-planted or hand-planted, this sapling made its home in Abraham Moore’s addition in the back yard of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at 870 Washington in Weston. Sadly, in 2010, this North American black walnut’s life came to an end. Or did it?”

An example of master carpenter Cliff Wieser’s work.

The Black Ancestors Awareness Campaign of Weston is inviting local residents to join master carpenter Cliff Wieser to discuss this mighty tree’s beauty and resilience and teach attendees how to count the “rings of life.”

“We’ll learn about woodworking from the master and see beautiful examples of his work,” Angela Hagenbach, BAAC founder, said. “A video presentation will further enhance this amazing story as we imagine what this magnificent North American Black Walnut may have witnessed during its long life in Weston.

“Please join us at the United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 533 Main Street in Weston from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27, as we explore this fascinating piece of Weston history together.”

Wieser was first exposed to fine woodworking as a child. His father, Rudolph Wieser, also a master carpenter, was his primary influence.

“I won my first blue ribbon at the art festival in Elkton, Md. at 12 years old, Wieser said. “I began my custom design and woodwork business in the late 1980’s.”

He is very excited to be the speaker at the upcoming event and talk about his love of wood and his craft.

When he came to Weston in 2006, the North American black walnut tree was still bountiful, and he said the walnuts were probably a big nuisance for the homeowner’s new gazebo.

“I offered to remove and utilize the logs,” Wieser said. “The stump was too beautiful to ignore. Making four vertical cuts I created five unique tabletops.”

He plans to talk about the tree’s beauty and resilience at the event. There will be a video presentation by Hagenbach, and Wieser will provide still images and show pieces of his woodworking. He will also show the audience how to count the rings of life.

His greatest joy from creating woodworking pieces that others can enjoy for many years of their lives is that the pieces represent the perpetual beauty of the tree to be enjoyed for generations.

“It basically gives the tree a second life,” Wieser said.

He also said that like anything else, a master carpenter must have good mentors and invest years of practice.

The main showroom and workshop for his larger pieces is at Platte County Hardwoods on H Hwy., Weston. Some smaller pieces are showcased at 1837 Emporium on Main Street in Weston.

“I also have small artsy pieces available in the Albrecht-Kemper Art Museum gift shop in St. Joseph,” Wieser said.

He always uses hard wood for his creations, including walnut, oak, mahogany, maple and cherry. His favorite wood to work with is cherry wood, because of its uniform texture and variety of grain patterns.

His favorite creation took seven years to complete.

“I started a full-size wingback from a single log in 2011, the project was completed in 2018, Wieser said. “It can be seen at 1837 Emporium, not to brag, but it is quite magnificent.”

In the early years the challenges Wieser faced were finding a niche market and developing a repeat customer base.

His biggest rewards over the years have come from “watching a flat drawing grow to a piece of art.”