Few images invoke a sense of Americana more than a barn situated in a rural setting. The American barn symbolizes work, life, growth, and harvest. A closer look at the history of the architecture of barns also reveals a connection to the ideas of resourcefulness, economy, health, and evolution. HOW DOES THE AMERICAN BARN CONNECT … Read More
RICHMOND, VA ~ 1908 In 1871, R. A. Patterson in Richmond, Virginia, introduced a brand of chewing tobacco called Lucky Strike. Thirty five years later, that same name would transition to the cigarette that can still be purchased today. R.A. Patterson was acquired by American Tobacco Company which commissioned a new warehouse in 1908 … Read More
Seventeen years ago, Longleaf procured a large number of salvaged Live Oak ship frame timbers which were buried in a quay at the Charlestown Navy Yard. Believed to have been replacement pieces for the Constitution class frigates built in the late 1790s*, but never used, the timbers were basically landfill until discovered during a construction … Read More
Every project has its own personality. When yours calls for character and charisma, we’ve got choices for you! In our world of reclaimed lumber, we mill material in all grades, often separating out the more colorful boards from the ones with a quieter temperament. Rusticity comes in many forms, including knots, nails holes, checking, … Read More
BELLOWS FALLS, VT ~ 1892 The problem was a 52-foot drop in the river at Great Falls where the Connecticut River bends around the town of Bellows Falls, Vermont. The solution was an adjacent canal through the center of town that would allow boats to bypass the falls and navigate the river. Subsequent mill buildings … Read More
BOSTON, MA ~ 1875 For more than 142 years, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston’s South End has stood grandly and served its parishioners. Now, after decades of graceful aging, the building is undergoing a crucial renovation. As a part of the project, Longleaf Lumber was able to salvage thousands of feet of … Read More
NORTHAMPTON, MA ~ 1909 The Smith College community is looking forward to the renovated and expanded Neilson Library, which is expected to be complete and open this fall semester. During the renovation process, Longleaf Lumber salvaged Heart Pine beams from the core of the historic 1909 library and will be sharing the history of this … Read More
QUINCY, MA ~ Early 1900s At one point the second-largest shipbuilding facility in the United States, the Fore River Shipyard employed tens of thousands of workers, produced hundreds of ships, and may have been the origin of the famous ‘Kilroy Was Here’ tag. In 2017, one of the last original buildings at the yard … Read More
In western Washington state, the cold, rainy season is in full swing. The three-hundred year-old reclaimed wood flooring in the Seattle Art Museum’s Italian Room, however, is warm, cozy, and radiant as ever.
They call it “The Mack”. In 2014, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s architectural masterpiece in Glasgow, Scotland, was badly damaged in a fire. This past year, we’ve been privileged to provide reclaimed Heart Pine beams for the restoration of the building.
