Sold to Beau from Omaha, NE on 2/20/2019
Here is a neat, one-of-kind fireplace mantel. It is composed of two large pieces of white oak joined together with a scarf joint, but then accented with a wine barrel stave. The stave shows a wonderful variety of colors including metal stains and red wine stains.

This particular beam started out as something more about 7×10. We cut off about an inch to remove some of the rotting surfaces. The bottom is the cut side and shows the slightly lighter interior that is more typical of white oak. We could darken it up a skosh. The front and top show the beautiful patina color that develops over time in a barn environment. We might also have this photographed upside down. Depending on the style of your fireplace, flipping it might be the way to go.

We applied a finish of Rubio Monocoat to give the mantel durability and just the right natural sheen. But, it still has this great, natural touchable quality.

This is the last beam of a collection of beams that we gathered from a historical Flour Mill later turned barn in Paynesville, Minnesota. The Paynesville Historical Society writes, “Wheat was the number one crop. This crop brought in the money. The Applegren Mill at Old Town (Paynesville) was world famous. John Peter Applegren purchased the mill in 1869. It had been a grist mill but was converted of the grinding of flour by Applegren. He produced Paynesville Rolled Flour which was a favorite with housewives. John’s Flour Mill, as it was affectionately called in Paynesville, also produced a very special flour called Golden Drop Flour. In 1893, he took 50 pounds of it in a pure silk bag to the Chicago World’s Fair. He won a gold medal and a scroll.” I believe that this beam was part of an addition that was later added to the original building. It is still probably 100 years old, but not quite 1860’s kind of vintage.

NOTE: I think these pictures look a little yellow-ish – orange-ish. The reality is more of a real brown.

Because of the uniqueness of this piece, it runs $120/LF. We can cut this one down in length, but the price is firm We will refinish the end as well. It ships for $125 via FedEx Gnd.

About the Tag – I believe this ad was from 1920s magazine. Tanglefoot flypaper to catch fleas overnight. It doesn’t seem that we hear much about fleas on people these days, but I’d imagine 100 years ago it was a bit different.