Alex Stewart: Cooper 

I’ve been listening to Alex’s life story on Celebrating Appalachia RU-vid channel by Tipper. Alex lived an interesting life. Tipper had shared this link so her subscribers could see and hear Alex. He truly was an amazing craftsman. Thank you for sharing his video!

My family now owns his property the barn he is working in in this video is still standing as well as his cabin...a lot of history up here in these hills

Luckily Alex did take on a few apprentices, before he passed on (12 years after this film was made!). Alex wasn't only a cooper, he waa a true self- sufficient pioneer, that could do practically anything... and HAD TO, in order to feed his family. I highly reccomend the book "Alex Stewart: Portrait of a Pioneer" by John Rice Irwin, who was the curator of the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, TN. Alex gives some wonderful insights on life in the isolated mountains, and how they "made do" in every aspect of life... things we take for granted. The Museum of Appalachia has alot of items made by Stewart

"...but I can't get no one interested in it." Good sir, I am saddened that I could not have known you a lot earlier, I would gladly have learned this trade from you.

Alex Stewart was my grandma's uncle. I miss hearing that accent. The book about him is wonderful.

I am one of Alex Stewart great grand child I can rember playing in the shaving and I am very proud of my family linkage I only wish that I had paid a little more to what he did so I could pass on to my son and grandchild.

"Alex Stewart, Portrait of a Pioneer". I highly recommend it!

Loved watching this. My great grandfather was a Cooper in Dublin Ireland for the Guinness Brewery.

I loved reading the book Portrait of a Pioneer! I thought Alex Stewart was fascinating and a swell feller too.

I saw an article showing Alex at his shaving horse 20 years ago. It is amazing to actually see and hear him in his own words. I use the froe and drawknife here in Canada, and it's very inspiring to see that I can continue this for a very long time. Thank you for this video.

This. Oh blessed FSM...this video. 💕 The filled-sack-between-the-hoops trick, alone, makes this worth watching. To say nothing of all the other traditional skills that so few of us know anymore. I'd like to make a small barrel one day but had no idea how to position the staves so they would stay while placing them next to each other. This is like "Foxfire books, reloaded"!... 😁😃

My grandmother used to tell a story about Alex. Amazing to see this video. Thank you for posting it.

Oh how I wish I could have been his student!

A work of art--both the craft and the man who made it.

What I wouldn’t give to have one of his churns & a butter press! My jersey cows milk sure would make some fine butter in those ! What a treasure of a man, sure saddens me to see the old skill sets falling by the wayside.

This is a wonderful video, thanks for posting!

You betcha! It's called "Alex Stewart, Portrait of a Pioneer". It's such a fascinating read!

Amazing, thank you so much for this presentation!

I have a book about this feller! He sure was smart. I admire the man.

The Best!! coopering is a dying trade, and its so sad...

Awesome

raised nine kids damn i cant even stop worrying about raising one in this age.

Awesome video !

Thanks for sharing.

@jonathanharris2007 Wow man, that's good to hear. Amazing really. I'm a (very) amateur bodger and turner, and I learned the skill from my grandfather. Nice to hear it's still going and some one did take up his tools and trade.

I hope his pieces are still around and people know who made them.

Awesome 👏

Art

wow he is good........well done..

my people are from Grainger county Tn, just 30 mins from Hancock county

Kkona HELL YEAH BROTHER

I love wood workin

I would dearly love to see his footpowered lathe, I wonder if it is anything like a bodger's lathe.

What is the title of the book? I'd like to see a copy.

Zen

Thanks for sharing, gotta be a relative of mine.

My husband used these plans from woodprix and he's very satisfied.

Could you tell the rest of us what the book is called, please?

:)

Kinda sucks that 3 generations providing for all families an not even one child pick up the trade but maybe there's no demand for it who knows

Hope someone takes over from here ,,,lord god,,,be a shame to see the worls lose this Art/

Awesome,,,,vids,,,,, bet he didnt make the dividers,,,lol

I like it 5

Stud

Well listen sonny, I know exactly what you was sayin. I just dont understand why some folks feel the use of the "F" word is always a necessity. I bet old Alex never had to use it. And I can make a bucket like Alex did. Can you?

Well if I was near ya I’d love ta work always by side yee

The pipe tobacco smells good

World\\..

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Ole timers about all gone so is their trades to lazy