Founders Log: A Gift from Crystal Spring Farm

I love what I do, but some parts of it are not easy. Like negotiating a reclaimed wood purchase with the widow of a beloved neighborhood farmer. For three years, I hesitated—until I heard the farm was for sale and that she could use some help. I approached her with care, offering as much as I could. Her soft-spoken reply, “That sounds fine, Steve,” was expected but still deeply meaningful.

Heart-Wrenching Reclaimed Wood

We immediately got to work, salvaging old-growth lumber from the horse stalls her husband, Art, had built, and removing historic barn doors constructed by his ancestors generations earlier. As we stripped away the aged boards and beams, Lillian would check in from time to time. I used those moments to reassure her that everything would be reclaimed, repurposed, and given a new life.

Although she displayed strength, it was clear that her heart and world remained broken. Soon after, the farm was sold, and she moved away, closing a chapter that had defined her family for decades.

Reclaimed Materials Find New Purpose

Time passed quickly, as it always does. In just over a year, we had successfully repurposed nearly all of the salvaged wood into residential and commercial projects, preserving the history and character of Crystal Spring Farm through thoughtful custom woodworking and design.

An Unexpected Reunion

Sixteen months after that mid-summer reclamation project, I found myself at a local restaurant with my son, capturing marketing photos of our work with local businesses. The place was quiet, with only a few patrons inside—but seated at a table directly in front of the doors we had installed six months earlier, I saw a familiar face.

There, in the soft glow of the restaurant’s lighting, sat Lillian—Art’s widow from Crystal Spring Farm. I stood in the doorway, momentarily stunned, then walked toward her.

As I approached, she stood up, and we hugged.

I explained why I was there, then gestured toward the handcrafted barn doors behind her. “You know these are your doors, right?” I asked.

Her eyes widened in shock. She gasped, covered her mouth, and began to cry.

Smiling through tears, she walked over, slowly reaching out to touch the reclaimed wood, feeling the familiar grain beneath her fingertips.

In her soft voice, she said, “Steve, you did a great job. Arthur would be very pleased.”

More Than Just Reclaimed Wood

I will never fully understand how or why our paths crossed that evening in such a powerful way. Perhaps Art himself played a role in this meaningful reunion. But what I do know is that this moment—a chance encounter with an old friend and the legacy of reclaimed materials living on—was a gift to both of us.

Honoring History Through Preservation and Thoughtful Design

At Reworx USA, we specialize in custom reclaimed wood furniture and architectural salvage. Every piece of reclaimed material we work with carries a story—whether it's from a century-old barn, an industrial warehouse, or a beloved family farm.

If you're looking for custom reclaimed wood furniture, bespoke woodworking, or sustainable building materials, we’d love to help bring a meaningful piece of history into your home or business.

Steve Garceau

Founder & Artisan – Reworx USA