Meet the craftswoman bringing sought-after heirloom dulcimers to Greenville
Sure, you might expect a guitar to accompany a campfire. A drum, maybe, or a harmonica. But when someone pulls out a dulcimer—especially one adorned in original, wood-burned artwork—people pay attention.
If there’s anything Molly McCurdy loves more than hearing happy stories featuring her instruments, it’s the process of handcrafting and introducing them to new audiences.
“Dulcimers are an Appalachian instrument that is extremely easy to pick up and play,” explains McCurdy. “Even if you don’t know how to turn a radio on, you can still learn quickly. You can finger-pick or strum them, and the strings are thinner and much lighter than a guitar—so they’re good for people with arthritic hands. They truly have a sound of their own: somewhat similar to a ukulele, but not identical by a long shot.”
When McCurdy was younger, an uncle taught her how to build one from a kit, and she loved the experience so much that she bought another kit and studied the pieces until she could build her own. The name of her eventual small business—Light o’ the Moon Dulcimers—is a story in and of itself.
“I was going to college at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, working part time, and raising two children as a single mom. The only time I had to work on the dulcimers was late at night. Thus, Light o’ the Moon was born.”
Crafted from natural hardwoods like walnut, Sitka spruce, sassafras, and mahogany, each dulcimer has a different sound, and no two are alike. “They’re heirloom quality and sturdy enough to pass down in the family,” adds McCurdy, who works with clients to select a theme for the wood-burned artwork and numbers every instrument.
The process and product brings joy to recipients of Light o’ the Moon Dulcimers. “A lot of people have [reached out to tell me] how much they love their dulcimers and the sound they produce, and that the artwork feels personal to them. Some people perform, some hang them up by the mantel, but most people just play them for leisure, for relaxation and pleasure.”
Recently relocated to Greenville from the Asheville area, McCurdy shares a home at the base of Paris Mountain with her husband, Doug MacCallum, who has over 40 years of experience in building custom furniture. He’s brought his skillset to the dulcimer business and assists McCurdy by calculating, measuring, cutting, and even helping her assemble the pieces before she begins the artwork.
About her move to the Upstate, McCurdy reflects, “I love it here in the Upstate, the environment, the beautiful scenery—and the people here are just awesome and really nice.”
