Starting out as a joke with friends in high school, Buzzy called everyone “Joe” and still does to this day, including his employees and his family.
While a senior in high school at the age of 18, William ‘Buzzy’ Bosworth began to build his career and network from 1975-1989, when he owned and operated three shops.
Hey, Joe!
Buzzy at his third shop on Vernon Avenue in Newport, RI in 1987.
He comes from a creative and entrepreneurial family spirit. His mother, Jane Bosworth, with a background in architecture, owned and operated Bosworth Interiors in Newport for 50 years. His father, LCDR Bill Bosworth, was a mechanical engineer and designed torpedos for the Navy during WWII. His sister, Robin Bosworth, owned and operated her creative plant care business in Newport for 40 years, and his sister, Dr. Terry L. Bosworth, was a professor who taught nursing psychology at the University of Saint Joseph in Connecticut. His daughter, Allison Bosworth, is a visual artist and designer with a focus on creative strategy and branding.
“When I was still in my senior year of high school, I’d hitchhike to my first shop in Portsmouth. Rather than taking a loan out for a car, I took my first loan out for a thickness planer.”
“I had several shops in Newport, RI from the age of 16 to 32. After Newport, I moved shop locations to Beaufort, SC, where I’m located today.”
Shop No. 1
At the age of 18, Buzzy opened his first shop to fulfill his artful vision as a master craftsman in Portsmouth, RI.
Shop No. 2
Buzzy’s second shop was located on Liberty Street in Newport, a much larger space located next to the infamous Harpo’s Bar and Grill in the lively downtown.
Shop No. 3
Buzzy’s third shop was located in the back of what is still “Newport Roofing and Construction” today. This dream shop was handed to Buzzy only a month after visualizing a better-suited shop for his needs, given to him as a lead by a customer. Newport Roofing is a well-known local business that has been around for generations.
At that time, the O’Hanley family was looking for someone to take over the old workshop space in the back of their building that originally belonged to his grandfather, who was the original founder of Newport Roofing.
“When you ask the universe for what you need, it always gives you an opportunity if you choose to see it.”
After 18 years of fabricating functional objects, this enabled Buzzy to reach a high level of expertise and quality in his art. His experience ranges from custom-designed furniture, architectural millwork, and reproductions of antiques to creating submarine mockup facilities for the U.S. Navy.
“As I developed my career, I was attracted to projects that inspired me and enhanced my expertise.”
In 1989, Buzzy moved from Newport, RI to Beaufort, SC, where he opened his fourth shop on Charles Street from 1989-1996. This is where Buzzy built a strong social and client network through his custom furniture and millwork projects for local homes and businesses.
Shop No. 4
Featured above is a baby manatee sculpture that Buzzy created in the mid-90s as part of the Environmental Art Association. Founded by Buzzy, the EAA was designed to promote environmental awareness for children and adults, visit the manatee project here.
As part of EAA experience, Buzzy designed and built this life-sized Humpback whale’s tail, pictured above on display in 1993 at the Charleston Southeaster Wildlife Exposition. See the whale’s tail project
The shop today
In 1996 Buzzy moved from his Charles street location in downtown Beaufort to Saint Helena Island, where he presently operates his studio.
Three of Buzzy’s favorite people: Joe the dog, Johnathan (Joe), and Jake (Joe).