Norm Abram – Host of “This Old House” and probably the most accomplished Pilam Marshal ever

Long before DIY videos, Norm Abram (U Mass Amherst ’71) was teaching homeowners and woodworkers how to build and fix things the right way. He stumbled into a career as a television host and is best known for his work on the PBS television programs This Old House and The New Yankee Workshop.

Abram was always passionate about working with his hands and made home repair and carpentry feel less like a trade you apprenticed into and more like a language anyone could learn.

This Old House

In 1979, Abram took a construction job building a small barn/toolshed/workshop in the backyard of television producer Russell Morash, who had produced Julia Child’s popular cooking program The French Chef for PBS. 

Impressed with Abram’s impressive and efficient work habits, Morash invited him to help with the renovation of a rundown Victorian house, which was the first filming of This Old House. Abram was invited to appear as a regular on This Old House, and he became a fixture on the show.

Abrams modestly said, “I’ve come to the conclusion that I became a teacher, but I never looked at myself that way. I’m happy the show gave viewers more interest in their own home.”

The New Yankee Workshop

Abram’s next project, The New Yankee Workshop was a woodworking series which aired on PBS from 1989 to 2009. The show featured the construction of workshop accessories, architectural details, and furniture.

For many people, Norm Abram became a trusted instructor. Abram was well known for his soft spoken, calm manner of explaining precise, efficient woodworking techniques. 

Abram never talked down to his audience. He assumed you were capable. Maybe inexperienced, maybe unsure, but capable. He explained complex joinery with the same patience he used to demonstrate how to sharpen a chisel. 

Norm’s Legacy

For many people, Norm Abram became something like an honorary uncle or neighbor. Watching him, you felt that if you really paid attention you could do this too. He was usually seen wearing a plaid shirt, a style that has become his trademark, and he began his shows with a reminder about personal safety, specifically highlighting the importance of wearing safety glasses.

After his retirement, PBS paid tribute to Abram in a special called: “The House that Norm Built.”

Parents watched his shows with their kids. Then the kids grew up and bought their own houses and realized they could actually fix things. Not because they’d done it before, but because they’d watched Norm do it, calmly, carefully, without drama.

Abram was also helping define what educational television could be: practical, intelligent, and deeply humane. This Old House wasn’t just about renovations; it was about history and community.

College turned out to be his second choice

Abram’s father was a carpenter, who taught his son many of his practical skills. He worked with his father starting at the age of 9, and continued during summer vacations in high school and college. 

At UMass, Abram was a mechanical engineering major, but found that he was more drawn to the family business. 

He said, “I loved the campus and have fond memories of my fraternity brothers, but I didn’t care for the technical side of mechanical engineering.”

Looks like he built the right career in the right way.