Artisan
Luther Stroup
Known For
Clockmaking, Woodworking
When you walk into Stroup Hobby Shop in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, you don’t step into a polished showroom—you step into a working woodshop alive with purpose. The warm scent of sawdust hangs in the air, and the gentle hum of fans mixes with music playing softly from a radio. Tools and materials are arranged where they’re needed, evidence of projects in progress, surrounding Luther Stroup at his work table as he carefully tends to a clock, hands dusted with wood shavings, eyes focused but quick to smile and share a story.
Luther moves with calm confidence, hands skilled from decades of working with wood, adjusting a delicate clock mechanism or smoothing a carved edge. Talking with him, you sense the depth of his passion—not just for the craft itself, but for the legacy he carries forward from his family. At one point, he lifts a pattern for the top of a clock, made decades ago by his grandfather, holding it with care as he explains how the design has influenced generations of clocks in the shop.
In one room, clocks rest among family photos and records that trace back to the shop’s earliest days in the 1950s. Each piece, whether a tall Grandfather or a finely detailed mantle clock, is signed, numbered, and dated by the maker, and carefully recorded in a ledger that now lists over 2,500 clocks made across four generations. These are more than clocks—they are heirlooms, meant to be passed down, treasured, and admired for decades. Polished surfaces catch the light, intricate carvings invite a closer look, and every movement of the hands is precise—a quiet demonstration of skill honed over time.
Luther’s work is a blend of tradition and personal touch. He knows the history of every piece, can recount the story behind each design, and welcomes anyone curious enough to watch, learn, and ask questions. Spending time in the shop is about more than seeing exceptional clocks—it’s about experiencing the care, patience, and artistry that make each creation more than an object. It’s stepping into a space where craftsmanship lives, breathes, and tells stories through wood, metal, and the hands of a master.
