I had the opportunity to chat with Ted Montgomery one Saturday morning. He was at his lovely home in Vermont and had just finished a big construction project with his son. They had installed a large skylight that Ted had been working on for several weeks. Ted is a multi-talented individual; he’s an architect, artist, builder, former EMT, part-time illusionist, and a devoted husband and father. His architectural designs, crafted from wood, copper, plastic, and stone, have been thriving for many years. Throughout his life, Ted has been enthusiastic about drawing, creating models, and sharing ideas. You can find a comprehensive list of his creations and community involvement in his book “A Suburb with a Soul.”
It’s been 13 years since his wife Sarah passed away from brain cancer, and Ted went through a significant grieving process. To honor his wife, he planted trees, scattered her ashes in Hawaii, England, and Vermont, and wrote two books, “A Suburb with a Soul” and “Design from the Heart.” Ted enjoys meeting new folks. For the last 10 years he offered overnight accommodation at the Akebia Studio & Gallery adjacent to his home. All proceeds from lodging, book sales and sale of artwork support Dr. David Krag’s research team at the UVM Foundation. Ted would say that although the grief will always be there, he feels he has gone through a healthy journey and shed many tears. In 2020, Ted designed and created The Bench with Benefits, dedicated to Sarah.
What inspired the Bench with Benefits?
“I have a friend named George, and after hearing about his idea for America’s greatest backyard bench, I decided to take a shot at it. I’m retired now but still enjoy designing structures. Once I began creating the bench, many additions started tumbling out. He said it would be nice to fit a few people, and it could convert into a bed; then he added Bluetooth speakers, a mosquito screen, a mini fridge, an outlet to charge an iPhone or iPad, an electric blanket, and a chess board that swings out. It took 4 months to build during the winter of 2020. The bench is made from Baltic birch plywood, and I love using IPE also known as Brazilian Walnut, Red Balau (dark wood). The different wood brings out all the animations in the wood grain. “Your logo is a nice one… I scanned and created a 3D model of it, which I then printed on my in-house 3D printer. Once the bench was complete, I rolled it outside, made Pizza, and had a family of four over to try out the bench and had a photoshoot”. The bench was initially built with the thought that he could sell it for cancer research, Ted would find a new owner for this bench for a significant donation to cancer research (reach out to Ted for further information).
What made you add a Telephone to The Bench?
A long-time friend, Noreen, sent an article on Itaru Sasaki and the original Wind Phone. Once he learned about Sasaki’s Wind Phone story, he decided that a Telephone of The Wind would be a nice addition to the bench. The original story was heart-touching, and I thought, wow, what a lovely thing and an excellent addition to this bench. It took hours to find the perfect phone; he mainly looked for phones on eBay. He saw two phones he liked and ordered a princess phone.
“I continued searching and mostly found push-button telephones, and then I decided The Telephone of The Wind should feature a rotary phone. I then found a simple antique rotary phone built in the 1950s and thought it would be perfect for the bench. I cleaned up the rotary piece, put copper foil on it, and painted the numbers and letters to clean up the dial,” he said. Ted pays attention to detail, as shown in the beautifully restored telephone.
Have you used The Telephone of The Wind?
“Yes, the first call I made was to my Dad on Father’s Day. It took a couple of days to get ready for it, and when I picked up the receiver I dialed “I love Dad,” he said. Ted’s Dad passed away in 2004. “He was a good father but his emotions were very protected, and he didn’t often say I love you son, maybe in the later years he said it more but he was stoic with his emotions. The Telephone helped me vocalize the things that have gone through my mind for years. It was a different experience and nice to say the words out loud, it was almost like completion in a way. It was fulfilling to talk to him again”. A song that comes to mind for Ted when thinking of his Dad is by the Moody blues – “Isn’t Life Strange”:
Wished I could be in your heart
To be one with your love
Wished I could be in your eyes
Looking back there you were, and here we are.
Have you let the community know of The Telephone?
My neighbors all know of it, but because the phone is on my property, I’d prefer that people reach out to me if they’d like to use the Telephone of The Wind. This is not a mainstream idea and a lot of people don’t get it. I live in a unique tight knit neighborhood and respect their privacy.
In Memory of Sarah Montgomery
On July 19, 2011, Sarah died as she had lived, with dignity and grace, in the Vermont Respite House, attended by her husband and three children. She was held closely in the hearts of her many friends, both in England and America. A brain tumor ended her life at age 67.
She enjoyed walking with friends and her golden retriever “Cappoosh.” She loved raising her children, cooking, gardening, the opera, good literature, traveling to see her extended family in England, and relaxing on beaches in Hawai’i. Hers was a most gracious kindness and warmth that attracted and nurtured many close friendships. Ted said everyone felt better in her presence.
Please send any questions or inquiries about donations or visiting the Bench with Benefits to Ted Montgomery: ted@groundswellarchitects.com
This is beautiful, Ted. Once again, your creative energy is inspiring.
I so wish we had a Telephone of the Wind here in the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida area. This would be such a comforting, serene place to talk with those who have crossed over. You folks are a safe haven for those who grieve. Thank you. Carole