Veteran watchmakers begin new journey in Odessa

The News Journal

Lynn Gipson, of Middletown, an Army veteran checks out the instrument he will be using to learn who to repair watches, on his the first class at the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative program in Odessa.

Jason Adams likes the feel of the small, intricate tools he uses to repair watches.

The watchmaking tools are a far cry from the weapon the U.S. Army veteran carried during his deployment in Iraq.

That contrast isn’t lost on the Middletown vet, who was forced to retire from the military because of an injury sustained during his deployment. He’s hoping his journey into watchmaking and repair will bring a calming presence to his life.

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"There definitely is a therapeutic side to it,” Adams said. “You can get lost in a watch. It’s just you and the watch and you tend not to think about anything else around you.”

That tranquility was one of the things that drew Adams to the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative in Odessa. He is one of six in the first class of the Initiative, which launched this week.

(left to right)Jonathan Dunn, a Coast Guard veteran and Jason Adams, an Army veteran, learn about the tools they will be using to repair watches during the first day of class the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative in Odessa.

The official grand opening of the Odessa Center for Horological Excellence was held Wednesday at its new home, the former American Legion Post 25 building on 6th Street.

The road for these six men began when Sam Cannan, chairman and co-founder of the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative, welcomed the veterans to their first day of class with acceptance letters and a quick introduction to their new workshop and the tools they will use to complete the program.

Cannan said it is the only technical school in the United States devoted to the training of honorably discharged veterans.

The focus of the program is to provide veterans – primarily disabled veterans – with highly skilled watchmaker training necessary to professionally repair and restore time pieces. He said skilled watchmakers are in high demand.

"A lot [of disabled veterans] have been forgotten, so this program is for them," Cannan said. "People say the government is taking care of them, but I say what they really need isn't happening. That's one of the reasons why we're here."

(left to right)Giancarlo LaRusso checks out the bolting mechanisms on a watch from Sam Cannan, chairman of VWI, during the first day of watch repair class at the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative in Odessa.

Cannan said the program also helps restore veterans' dignity by teaching them a marketable, lifelong skill.

Adams' first goal is to make it through the 10-week watch repair course. From there, he hopes he can go right into the 16-week master watchmaking course.

"Then maybe one day I can open my own business," he said.

Jonathan Dunn's heard Cannan speak about his desire to start the school more than a year ago. He knew then he wanted to be a part of it.

His reasons run deeper, though.

"We're a forgotten bunch and have been pushed aside," said Dunn, a Coast Guard veteran who lives in Middletown. "Sam is a saint among veterans for giving so many an opportunity to take part in this class and to make a difference again."

As a Realtor, Dunn tried to help Cannan find a home for the school. As they grew to know each other better, Cannan invited Dunn to be tested to see if his skill set fit the program. When it did, he applied.

"I'm a huge watch aficionado, so it's a dream to be here," he said. "I want it to take me as far as it can go. Maybe one day I can be a master watchmaker."

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Due to the aging watchmaker population, thousands of watchmakers are needed. In the 1950s, there were about 44,000 watchmakers and over 40 watchmaking schools in the United States.

Today, there are about 3,000 working watchmakers and six schools.

"This is the first watchmaker school to open in the U.S. in the past 20, 25 years," Cannan said. "And the only one for disabled veterans."

Like Adams, Jim Gardner was drawn to the program partly because of the solitary nature of the trade. The U.S. Coast Guard veteran from Binghamton, New York, said many vets are dealing with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder and welcome the chance to work alone.

"This is a solitary field and watch repair can be very comforting and calming," he said.

Don Morton, an Air Force veteran who served in Iraq, checks out the eye loop he will be using to learn how to repair watches with on the first day of class at the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative in Odessa.

Being able to fix a watch that has been in the family for generations is how Don Morton, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force from Binghamton got interested in the class.

Morton, who has dabbled in watch repair as a hobby, said his girlfriend saw a post on Delawareonline.com, which led him to Cannan. He has been helping Cannan renovate the program's new home for a year now.

"I want to help veterans," he said. "I'd love to be able to hand down the knowledge I gain here and help keep the craft going. I have a feeling this is going to change my life."

A love of watches connected Lynn Gipson with the program.

The Vietnam veteran from Middletown said he was giving blood at the Wilmington Veterans Administration when saw a brochure for the program in the waiting room. He knew he wanted to be a part of this "special" program.

Army Veteran Lynn Gipson, of Middletown, join fellow classmates as they gather outside in the rain for the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative's grand opening ceremony of the Odessa Center for Horological Excellence. VWI is the only technical school in the USA devoted to the training of honorably discharged veterans.

"I love watches," said Gipson, who has different watches for different outfits. "Each watch has its own personality and it's special to the person who wears it. People love their watches. I just want to help them keep running."

A long time coming

Cannan said his journey to opening has been long and eventful.

After failing to find adequate space in Dover, a 2014 proposal to use a former elementary school failed to get a vote before Kenton Town Council.

Veterans Watchmaker Initiative in Odessa, a watch repair training program for veterans, held its first watch repair class on Tuesday morning.

An article in The News Journal about the stalled effort grabbed the attention of Richard and Geri Money of Middletown, who donated four acres of commercially zoned farmland off U.S. 301 last year. More than 300 veterans signed up for the school’s waiting list, but complications over getting water and electric service to the site stalled the effort.

“Middletown has been very welcoming and getting there is still our ultimate goal,” Cannan said. “But we needed to get the school going while we continue raising money."

That’s when he and Vietnam veteran Rick Hofmann, a retired Delmarva Power spokesman, found the vacant Odessa property.

Cannan estimates the cost to gut and build the classrooms is more than $30,000 so far, with "much more" work needed. In addition, a low estimate for the equipment and tools used by the students is $150,000.

"We're not there yet," he said. "We probably need at least $100,000 more for equipment. But we're grateful for all of the donations and for those who have made this possible."

Lynn Gipson, of Middleton, an Army veteran, goes through the various tools he will be using to learn how to repair watches at the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative in Odessa.

Reach Jerry Smith at jsmith17@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JerrySmithTNJ.