This may be more of a "Jen" post ... but it would be interesting to hear other family members memories of Brother Strong and his clock castle creations.
Wayne D Strong was a member of the Cottonwood 13th ward. He lived just down the street from the church, on 6400 S. He taught primary for many years, and was one of my (Jen's) favorite teachers when I was young. I remember I'd go sit with him during Sacrament meeting, and a few times each year, I'd visit him at his home. There ... I could see his clock castles.
This was a creative outlet for Brother Strong, and a labor of love for his children. He built them each a castle clock. They were so detailed and intricate. I loved looking at them. I think he built the two pictured above first, then moved into into some different styles. The one pictured below was my favorite. It has some similarities to Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty castle. I remember the gate actually went up and down to allow entry.
This may have been inspired by Disney's Aladdin castle, or the Taj Mahal ...
Another classic Disney-style castle. So many intricate pieces! I loved the blue glass "moat" that would light up. There were little lights throughout the castles.
The little drawbridge could be pulled up ...another moat around the castle.
I can't recall if I'd just invite myself over, or how often I imposed on Brother Strong to see his clocks over the years. He had a little (not so little really) playhouse in the back too, with tiny bunkbeds and a kitchen. I'm sure his grandchildren loved Grandpa's house!
I don't remember when the last time I went to see Brother Strong and his castle clocks. I was older (20 years old). I was dating Grayson and had brought up this childhood memory. It was so strong, I wanted to introduce Gray to Brother Strong, and the clocks. We arranged a time, and Scott and Amy (also dating at the time, so this probably would have been in 1991) joined us for a double date.
Brother Strong passed away in 1996. Mom and I attended the funeral. My journal entry from the day ...
July 1, 1996 Joined Mom in the morning to go to the funeral of an old Primary teacher of mine. Wayne Strong. He had been teaching primary for 30 years and taught all of the kids in our family. I remember going and sitting with him and drawing pictures in Sacrament meeting. He is also the man that made the fantastic clocks that would go see at his house even after I was out of Primary. In fact, I even took Grayson (and Scott and Amy came with us) to go see them. Gray was the only guy worthy to see this special man. The funeral was pretty upbeat, and the primary kids sang. Landon was a handful, not really bad, but a little too active for a funeral. I don't think Brother Strong would have minded though.
When I got to thinking about the clocks, I remembered that Brother Strong's grandson Danny was on FB and friends with Derek. I friended him, and he accepted, and then I reached out via messenger to ask (if it wasn't too much trouble) if I could get some of the pictures of the clocks. Danny obliged. I remember these exact pictures too. I think perhaps they were for an article in the Church News or some other publication. I still think of Brother Strong when I drive past his old house (on the way to the folks), and remember his wonderful life and his creative clock castles.
******************* Family Responses ******************
Chris: Beautiful, I remember brother strong, but not the castles.
Mom/Margie: I remember most of you had him in Primary and Jeni especially loved to sit with him in Sacrament Meeting--I guess because Jen and Bro. Strong both liked drawing and were artists. I remember in his class, when you would learn The Articles of Faith (I think it was) he would reward you with a giant Hershey candy bar. I remember his clocks were fantastic. I didn't remember them being castles, but thought maybe cuckoo clocks, but all unique. His wife Marty Strong was ill with esophageal cancer, as I remember, when I was R.S. President. I remember taking dinner over and him saying how she had trouble swallowing unless there was gravy or something to help it go down. When she died, his clock making gave him something to do to help cope with the loss.
Derek: I love this! Brother Strong was my primary teacher too. He was really old by then. Dan was one of my good friends and we still talk. I remember when his Grandpa died. It's interesting - I've never really seen these photos (or seen Wayne Strong younger) but I can see a TON of resemblance between my buddy Dan and his grandpa!
Wendy: I remember Brother Strong, and knew that he was a clockmaker, but these pictures don't look familiar. Those are absolutely amazing!! He was my primary teacher and would give us one of those giant chocolate bars when we memorized the books of the bible in order. I still remember them to this day! I remember the books of the Old Testament in order because I learned a song with it, which I still remember. I memorized the books of the New Testament in order without a song. I still remember them, but not as well. I checked Dropbox to see if I had any journal entries about him. This is the only one I could find right off, from when I was 14. I am sure I have other memories written down in earlier journals.
December 23, 1982: I tended Penny Eardley’s two little boys at Strong’s house. Brother Strong was there but couldn’t tend them because he had an operation on his hips. He is very nice and his last name fits him perfectly especially with the death of his wife a while back. We made a snow fort – Chris is going to sleep in it tonight.
