Our History
The History of our Product
Almost upon arrival (late 1700's), settlers armed with the idea of a better life began to carve the landscape. They would soon discover the richness of the soil of some of the most fertile land in the Chateauguay Valley. Cutting trees, tilling up the soil and making a home were quintessential. Cutting trees meant fire wood and timber. Before the arrival of sawyers and mechanized means of milling, these trees where cut with a broad axe and froe. Hence, the marks we see in hand hewn beams. Most of the trees cut were large first growth Hemlock and Spruce. Our virgin forests looked much differently than the ones we know today. Barns began to crop up along the country side. In some cases, these barns served as the original temporary homes for some settlers, then either taken apart for some other use or used as an implement shed or chicken coop.
Our Process
When we dismantle barns, a bit of investigatory work is required to uncover its age. They were almost always a melange of new wood and wood taken from older derelict structures. The kinds of joinery also helps us determine age.
The earliest barn I have had the privilege of dismantling dated back to 1840. As I removed the boards, a quaint and romantic notion came to mind. "This board is 175 years old!!!". Upon further reflection I realized the board I had removed was 17" wide and that its shear width must have been from a hemlock that was probably well over a hundred years old when milled. So imagine that seedling, or fishing pole sized sapling swaying in the wind with the sun sending its rays upon its needles 275 years ago.
For more information on Barns, technical information, paintings, and early barn life, try reading some of the following books:
Eric Sloane's ; an Age of Barns, Our Vanishing Landscape, A Diary of a Young American Boy; American Yesterdays.
© Mr. Barnwood. All rights reserved. Designed and maintained by Adam Poirier.