We've traveled far and wide, seeking rare and unique historic reclaimed wood for our clients...   

While traveling across the country to find rare antique wood for an upscale renovation project here in Boston, owner and lumber buyer Arnie Jarmak unearthed a serious treasure trove of historic wood tied to several important moments in our nations history. From a textile mill in the Midwest, to the world's largest chewing gum factory in Chicago, and even the birthplace of U.S. copper industry right here in New England. We've got the wood that built a nation. This is the story.

Girl weaving at the Lincoln Cotton Mill. Evansville, Indiana. 1908. Lewis Hines. Image courtesy of Library of Congress.

"If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera." -Lewis Hines

In 1908, Lewis Hines captured the image above of a young girl working at the Lincoln Cotton Mills in Evansville, Indiana. His photographs tell the story of a life of hardships for many factory workers, mostly young women and children, in the early 1900's. Three years later in 1911, a yellow brick building, in the classic revival style of the era, was constructed at 333 Summer Street, then in the heart of Boston's burgeoning Wool Row District. While in Chicago, another industrial mega-complex was built by WM Wrigley Jr. Company to manufacture its signature gum flavors like Spearmint, and Double-mint. Located hundreds of miles apart, and constructed for seemingly different purposes, these three buildings today provide a unique story about our past, present, and future as it relates to the heritage of industry in America.

Lincoln Cotton Mill. Evansville, Ind. c.1919

WM Wrigley Jr. Co. Chicago, Ill. c.1911

Over the years, these buildings would be transformed to serve many other purposes than originally intended, their heavy timber and brick construction adapted to each new use, until their industries, most likely manufacturing, ultimately dried up. Last December, in the midst of major renovations to restore the buildings aging structure, 333 Summer Street was ravaged by a devastating 8-alarm fire, destroying many of the original old-growth heavy timbers, that were in otherwise sound condition, even after 100 years of use. Within just a few months, in the summer of 2014, after many years of neglect and waning use the Wrigley Gum Factory, and the Lincoln Cotton Mill were demolished.

Wrigley Gum Factory demolition.

Architect's rendering of interior space utilizing exposed reclaimed beams and columns at 333 Summer St.

In the end, the wood required to complete this project would come from several amazing and truly historic sites across the country, including timbers from Evansville, Indiana and Chicago, as well as a former Russel Wear Athletics factory in Alabama, and to top it off, wood saved from the birthplace of the U.S. copper industry in Canton, Massachusetts. It was there, in 1801 that the famed "midnight rider" and silversmith Paul Revere successfully rolled copper for the first time in America, effectively establishing one of the most vital industries to this country (more on this to come!).

Reclaimed timbers and decking installed at 333 Summer St.

Two men work to insure the heavy timbers are secure.

Reclaimed antique wood for every surface.