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Draft:Hammerstone School: Carpentry for Women and Gender Minorities

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Hammerstone School: Carpentry for Women and Gender Minorities is a carpentry school founded in 2013 in Trumansburg, New York, with a mission of empowering women and gender minorities through craft trades education. The school emphasizes hands-on learning, equity, and artisanship in an inclusive, supportive environment. A second campus opened in July 2024 in downtown Ithaca, New York.[1]

History

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Hammerstone was founded by Maria Klemperer-Johnson, a carpenter with a background in history. Throughout her career, she observed a significant gender disparity in the building trades, often being the only woman in building classes or on job sites. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, fewer than 3% of carpenters are women.[2]

The idea for Hammerstone took shape in the winter of 2012–2013 when a friend offered a tiny house project to build educational programming around. The first courses taught students to frame the house and complete trim and interior details. The success of these early classes led to the development of new offerings and expanded the school’s reach across the United States.

Mission and Philosophy

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Hammerstone’s mission is to empower women and gender minorities through craft trades education. The school prioritizes skill-building and craftspersonship over job-readiness programs, which are often the focus of traditional workforce training. Classes are designed to foster confidence, independence, and technical competence among students who have historically been excluded from the trades.

Campuses

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Hammerstone operates two campuses in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State:

  • The original campus in Trumansburg, NY (established in 2013)
  • A second campus in downtown Ithaca, NY (opened July 2024)[1]

Programs

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Hammerstone offers a range of building and carpentry classes, with many designed specifically for women and gender minorities:

  • 2-Day Basic Skills
  • Tiny House Courses
  • Rough Carpentry
  • Finish Carpentry
  • Woodworking
  • Specialty Trades
  • Digital Design
  • Two-Hour Tutorials
  • Evening Courses
  • Free Solidarity Classes

Custom workshops are available and open to all genders.

Student Demographics and Impact

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Since its founding, Hammerstone has served more than 2,800 students. Participants range in age from 18 to over 70 and represent a wide spectrum of races, orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Many are first-time tool users, while others are seeking to upskill for home repair or transition into trades careers.

Media Coverage

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Hammerstone has been featured in multiple national and regional media outlets:

  • The Washington Post profiled the school in a 2022 article titled "‘We build each other up’: Carpentry classes for and by women."[3]
  • Stanford Magazine published a profile, "Build Like a Girl," highlighting founder Maria Klemperer-Johnson’s mission to empower women through carpentry.[4]
  • The Ithaca Times and other local media have frequently reported on the school’s expansion and community impact.[1]
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  1. ^ a b c Babich, Matt (2024-07-26). "Hammerstone Women's Carpentry School Opens Second Location In Ithaca". Ithaca Times.
  2. ^ "Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics". U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
  3. ^ Judkis, Maura (2022-09-28). "'We build each other up': Carpentry classes for and by women". The Washington Post.
  4. ^ "Build Like a Girl: At Hammerstone School, women gain more than carpentry skills". Stanford Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
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