Arlington Heights, IL November 5--Jay Wikary, owner of American Barn Company in Chicago, is saving old barns from burning, bulldozing, or burial by recycling the wood into custom made furniture and flooring, according to The Daily Herald.
Sales last year were about $100,000. "We're a little company, but we're growing," he said.
Wikary, a 55-year-old former contractor, began his business in 1998, when he heard that the McHenry County Conservation District wanted a contractor to take down six barns to make way for a nature center.
Wikary landed the job, then salvaged the wood.
His company has taken down more than 30 barns, including ones in suburbs such as Arlington Heights, Aurora, Crystal Lake, Naperville and Prairie Grove. Most of the owners are happy to give the decrepit barns, and their contents, to American Barn Co. His only overhead is his labor.
Recently, Wikary, woodshop manager Dan Mousel and hired hand Dave Asmussen spent a sunny day pulling the lean-tos off of a barn near Peoria. The barn probably dates to 1867, Wikary said.
Mousel, who makes furniture and flooring, pointed out hand-hewn oak timbers with spaces for pegs. Early farmers had no sawmills or nails, he said.
"The timbers in here are re-used," Mousel said. "I think it's pretty neat to find in 1867 people were recycling timber."
Farmer Vernon "Boots" John Aberle, 86, farmed the land after his father, though neither of them ever owned the property. He stored machinery in the barn when he was still farming. The building hasn't sheltered livestock for 15 years.
"I never thought I'd see this barn torn down, but I guess I will," Aberle said.
The men found one piece of wood with the initials JBG. Aberle thought the initials might belong to the father of the old owner.
The firm's Chicago showroom has furniture and flooring samples as well as artifacts from barns. Pulleys, tools and doors are priced at $30 to $40.
Mousel said the prices for his furniture are competitive with large stores. He and craftsman Paul LeBeau make each piece.
"You spend the same money with us, and you'll get a piece of real furniture," he said.
Jay Wikary said a typical table costs $1,000 to $4,000. A mantel runs from $200 to $1,000. Flooring costs $6 to $15 per square foot.
Adam Wikary, Jay's son, minds the store and manages the office at 3808-10 N. Clark St. He also designed the Web site, www.americanbarncompany.com, which is where the owners of the barn near Peoria found the company. And he has other ways to catch the attention of customers, such as setting items on the sidewalk.
