North Road Wood Shop

George Elliott “Jed” Dixon · July 20, 1951 – November 29, 2024

Nationally-renowned woodworker George Elliott “Jed” Dixon died on November 29 at the age of 73. He was born in Providence, just before midnight on July 20, 1951; his twin brother, Andy, was born a few minutes later on July 21. He spent his young life in Barrington and New Canaan, Connecticut, before leaving home in 1966 to attend Phillips Academy in Andover and then Brown University.

While at Brown, he developed an interest in woodworking and apprenticed with master furniture maker Tage Frid at nearby RISD. After graduation, he opened a woodshop with his twin Andy in the South End neighborhood of Boston. Dixon Brothers Woodworking became a hub of fine carpentry in the city. There, he developed an interest in building custom staircases, due to their beauty and technical complexity.

In Boston, he met and married Helen Hardy, and in 1984, they moved their young family to a small farm in Foster. There he opened North Road Stair Builders, which designed and installed custom winding staircases across the northeast. He developed a reputation as a master of the craft, and in 1996, he began giving woodworking lectures across the country. His teaching remains available at ThisIsCarpentry.com's website and on YouTube.

Jed was known for his insatiable curiosity. He kept bees, tended orchards, pressed cider with an antique press he restored, and raised horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, dogs, cats, and three children. He tapped maple trees and made sugar; he built barns, greenhouses, outdoor saunas, and the locally famous Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge. He repaired cars, motorcycles, tractors, and hay-balers. He grew horseradish and blended it wearing a mask and snorkel. He read a book every week from the time he was ten years old until Alzheimer's took that from him. He hiked Mount Washington, sailed across the Atlantic, paddled the Boundary Waters and the Grand Canyon, hang-glided off Mount Tom. He taught dozens of carpenters how to turn at the lathe. Dogs and children adored him.

He had sparkling eyes and well-worn smile lines on his face. He retained his kindness and gentle spirit in spite of the indignities of Alzheimer's Disease. He would want us to strive for a world in which people can die with dignity when they are ready.

He is survived by his wife Helen; siblings Andy and Candis; children Will, Nathaniel, and May; grandchildren Elliott and Nora; and countless beautiful staircases.