We All Have a Story, Larry: Rochester, NY Portrait Project

"You need to talk to Larry.  He's the best man I know. He'd be perfect for this project."
These were the words uttered by Erica Ebert after interviewing her for We All Have a Story.

Larry Wahl is someone I have been fortunate to know for several years.  Back when I was a substitute teacher and he an English teacher, I would often work at Webster Schroeder High School for him or with him and we'd have some great conversations.  I found him to be a thoughtful, passionate teacher who challenged and inspired many students.

As word of We All Have a Story got out, I had many people reach out to me with interest in participating.  Larry was not one of them.  It took an email on my part (maybe several) to convince him to meet with me.  Once we talked and he understood my goals and vision , he was fully on board.  He knew that his love of woodworking would be just the story to tell.  

Visiting his woodshop for our photo session was everything I'd hoped it would be.  Meticulous and well-organized, filled with machines and tools handed down from his father and brother, his woodshop is a place for him to putter, create, continue to learn and always to think.

In his words:

The Woodshop

Ever since I was little, a woodshop has been a welcome part of my life. One of my brothers, nine years older than I, was always working in my dad’s shop when we were young. He let me help out wherever I could. By the time I was in high school, he’d made a business of his hobby, and I worked for him until I graduated from college. After buying my own home, I was able to set up a basement shop, which included a couple of his and my dad’s early tools. The most recent shop is (finally!!) above ground, in the back half of the carriage house at our village home. In it, I am able to build things that can be both useful and beautiful, and each project provides an opportunity to learn something new.

Larry Wahl

Coordinator of Library, Secondary ELA, and Strategic Initiative

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