Carolyn Linton makes her living breathing new life into old barns.
Linton, who owns Green Meadow Barn Co., re-purposes the wood from 100-year-old barns and homes to build furniture - tables, benches, desks, cupboards and cabinets, lanterns and boxes.
"Some of the wood I use is 150 years old. This is my way of letting it live on and be enjoyed," said Linton, whose showroom at her home near Millersburg is housed in the relocated barn from her family homestead in Chillicothe. "I like to give it new life, give it a chance to be an important part of the ambiance of somebody's home."
Her work will soon be featured in the Best of Missouri Market Oct. 3-5 at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.
Linton said she first started building things as a young girl - noting one of her favorite things to do was to go out around the farm and "find pieces of wood I could put together."
Linton stumbled upon the idea she could make a living from her passion for working with wood when friends were impressed with the furniture she built for her home shortly after getting married.
"People would ask about it and I would say, "You don't want that, I made it,'" she said. "But apparently they did."
The former teacher, stay-at-home mother and general contractor finally started making furniture full time 25 years ago.
Linton said her favorite part of working with wood salvaged from old barns and other structures is guiding the transformation from rough board to piece of art.
"I like seeing the beginning ruggedness, then, with proper care and procedures, the natural beauty comes forth," Linton said. "You see something that was not cherished become something desireable. I can contribute something to someone's home that becomes part of their story and something they enjoy. It does my heart good."
Linton does all of the work on the furniture herself, by hand.
When she first started, Linton used to go out and look for old barns herself. Now, more often than not, people call her.
Linton said she has had a respect of old barns her whole life.
"They have an authenticity and genuineness," she said. "Without words, they speak of, "I'm here, I've been here a long time and I'm here to stay, and I will welcome you.'"
Linton likes to include information about the source of the wood with each of her pieces - including writing out the history on the bottom and a pewter medallion with the image of the structure and its location, and year of construction.
"I have several pieces made from a barn put up (in 1857) before Lincoln was president," she said, pointing out that the trees many of the barns were built from were probably growing when Lewis and Clark came through Missouri. "I have such respect for the people that built these buildings."
Linton said she tries to make a range of different kinds of pieces in a variety of styles. She also does custom pieces, but said it is often the wood that determines the final product.
"There are limitations because the barn wood itself dictates what you do with it," Linton said. "You have to take the boards you have and turn them into something that is usable. The wood dictates what its potential is."
This will be Linton's 12th year to be included in the Best of Missouri Market, scheduled from 5:30-9 p.m. on Oct. 3 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 4-5.
Linton said it is an honor to be invited to participate and is something she looks forward to every year.
"It's always good to have fresh insight and comments from new people that haven't seen my work before," Linton said. "It's always nice to have input and comments and appreciation (for the work)."
When asked, Linton said all of her pieces are her favorite, but noted she especially enjoys making harvest tables designed to be used for dining.
"I like to imagine children gathered around them for dinner with mom and dad, and the memories that are created when people gather to break bread and share their day," Linton said.
For more information on Linton's work and Green Meadow Barn Company, visit the website at www.greenmeadowbarncompany.com. The show room is open by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling (573) 592-0331.
Katherine Cummins can be reached at (573) 826-2418 or [email protected].