Creative ReUse Cowboy Highlights the Reclaimed Wood Booth
The Stories Behind the Wood
Each piece of wood available at the Reclaimed Wood Booth has its own story, contributing to the rich tapestry of Appalachian history:
- Heart Pine Boards: These reddish boards once supported the structural parts of the West Edge Factory during its days as a suit factory. When Coalfield Development transformed the factory into an arts and events venue, the boards were meticulously removed and cleaned for resale.
- Chestnut Beams: Sourced from an old barn in Helvetia, West Virginia, these beams once served as the timbers of this historic structure. The gray barnwood available at the booth also comes from the siding of this barn.
- Maple and Oak Craft Wood: Once flooring in the gym of a high school in Fort Gay, these pieces were originally cut at the oldest and largest timber mill in West Virginia. Some pieces still bear the mill’s label carved into the bottom.
Without the efforts of Coalfield Development's Reclaim Appalachia deconstruction team and the Appalachian Reuse Hub, this valuable wood could have ended up in a landfill or been burned. Instead, it’s available for you to bring new life into your projects.
Creative Possibilities
The reclaimed wood from our booth can be transformed into stunning pieces for your home or office:
- Chestnut Beams: Perfect for mantlepieces, especially when planed or cut to a square shape.
- Maple and Oak Flooring: Ideal for creating racks to hang keys, hats, or coats—simply glue or nail the pieces together and add hooks.
- Heart Pine Boards: Excellent for making signs or desk tops.
- Gray Barn Wood: Cut into thinner panels, these pieces make beautiful accent walls.
Why Buy Reclaimed Wood
According to the Creative ReUse Cowboy, when you buy reclaimed wood from the Appalachian ReUse Hub, you are:
- Helping us rebuild the Appalachian Economy by demonstrating that there is value in reuse and deconstruction work!
- Supporting a locally growing enterprise that employs and trains local people with barriers to employment in deconstruction and reuse practices.
- Purchasing wood with a character that is known to be long-lasting and durable! Our wood is rare and antique from local sites that have deep histories and stories.
- Lowering the demand for new wood and helping to keep quality wood out of the landfill.
- Finally, when you buy local salvage, you are joining a growing movement of folks who believe in the value of taking the extra time to save materials and reuse/repurpose them rather than sending them to a landfill where the history and value will never be captured!
About Appalachian ReUse Hub
The Appalachian ReUse Hub (ARH) aims to creatively rethink traditional material life cycles and inspire local and regional reuse through workshops, collection events, market shaping, and a deconstruction/reclaimed wood enterprise. Appalachia's infrastructure for reusing and recycling landfill-destined materials is often insufficient, but items like old tires, e-waste, and barnwood still hold value. ARH is working to change that, promoting a circular economy and sustainable practices.
Join us in this movement and discover the beauty and history of reclaimed wood at their new booth at Village Antiques. Together, we can build a more sustainable future while preserving the unique stories of our past.
