Observations from the Woodshop

THE PRODIGAL CHAIR

     About a week or so ago, the chair and I went on our first road trip together.  I had a couple of deliveries to make in Pennsylvania and I decided that this would be a good opportunity to go and visit our primary lumber supplier, Irion Lumber. www.irionlumber.com.  Irion is owned and operated by Lou and Wanda Irion.  I actually met Lou and Wanda  a number of years ago at The Appalachian String Band and Music festival [gee, I wonder if the chair would be up for a visit  to that?] at Clifftop WV. Lou had been nice enough to extend an invitiation to visit their home and since that time has proceeded on a regular basis to hassle me about coming up. So, like I said, the timing seemed right for a visit, all except for the fact that my wife Glenda couldn’t go this time, and truth be known, I much prefer her company over that of a chair, but hopefully there will be another time. That is, if we didn’t wear out our welcome this time.  But, I digress. Irions have a beautiful place, and a great business. As far as lumber suppliers go, I’ll put them up against anyone.  The day I arrived, Lou was being treated for lyme disease and was a feeling bit under the weather, so a tour of the lumber yard fell to their yard manager Myron Yoder, who was a great tour guide.  To back up for a minute. Irions lumber yard is on their farm a few miles outside of a small town in Pennsylvania. It’s really a pretty place, wooded rolling hills interspersed with hay fields, pastures, a couple of ponds , and gardens and fruit trees thrown in.  Then there is the lumber yard. I didn’t count how many different buildings there are, but for a lover of wood it was a fantasy land. Myron led me from building to building, throwing open sliding doors, that revealed the treasures stored within. Irion keeps alot of lumber in flitch cut “sets”. That is that the boards are stored in sets as the came out of the log.  I can’t even remember all that we looked at, but I couldn’t pass up purchasing some special pieces while I was there and ended up buying some nice curly walnut, along with a couple of different types of figured cherry, mahogany , and maple.  After touring the yard, and gathering up my purchases, Lou found the energy to give me a tour of the place as we fed the pigs and horses. We then enjoyed a lovely meal on their front deck with the added company of their son and daughter in law, and a good friend of theirs that saws a bit of the lumber that they sell. All in all, it was an enjoyable trip and I am hoping that Glenda and I will be able to visit there sometime in the not too distant future. 

Tags: back to the land, cherry, creativity, family business, fine furniture, flitches, furniture, furniture design, furniture making, handmade furniture, lumber, marketing, walnut, woodshop, woodworking