Maurice Howland has filled his life with the whir and hum of machinery and the sweet smell of sawdust. Inspired by a lifetime spent in woodshops — first in high school, then in the Air Force, and later in his own garage — and a move to a historic home in New Bern with a less-than-ideal workspace, Howland decided to turn his hobby into a career.

 

Mo opened Shop Class, a do-it-yourself community workshop in downtown New Bern with a simple concept:

 

You pay for your time in the space, and he provides the tools you need to create a masterpiece.