The Oconomowoc High School seeks donations to help restore four beautiful, handcrafted vintage string instruments: two violins, a cello and a viola. These fine musical instruments were built by local musician Frank Chatfield and donated to the school in the 1930's. The donated instruments were used by students for several decades until they fell into disrepair and were put into storage. The decision was made in 2015 to preserve the instruments and restore them to playing condition.
Chatfield, a long-time city planner for Oconomowoc, took up the hobby of building and repairing stringed instruments, most notably violins, violas and cellos. He harvested wood for his instruments from trees in the Lac La Belle Area, and some of that wood, which still exists, will be used to repair the instruments.
The school needs your help to repair these historic instruments! Scott Sleider, a world-renown luthier in the Milwaukee area, has agreed to do the meticulous restoration work at an estimated cost of $28,000. As of December 11, 2018, $12,830 has been raised. OHS hopes to raise an additional $15,000 to reach the goal of complete restoration.
A tax donation of any amount can be added to your cart to help fund the restoration process.
Click the link below to donate to donate.
(Photo Credit: Todd Ponath, Lake Country Publications.)
