Kansas man reclaims old barn wood saving “pieces of history”

While some see old barns or buildings as something to be discarded, 34-year-old Tyler Christman sees them as an opportunity to “reclaim history” and create a new chapter for old barn lumber.

“Even the most derelict buildings we’ve ever done are like time capsules, carrying with them memories of days gone by. Memories of lives lived—a way of life carved out of hard work, toughness, and determination,” he said. “It’s reclaiming history because these barns offer a glimpse into what life was like 200-plus years ago.”

From his farm in Lecompton, Kansas, Tyler runs Bald Eagle Barn Wood, a business he started almost by chance with his dad, Darin Christman.

“My dad worked in the corporate world for more than 20 years, but back in 2011, he was diagnosed with lymphoma,” Tyler said in an interview with The Epoch Times. “So he quit his job to cut back on stress and fight his battle with cancer.”

He noted that his father is in remission and doing great nowadays, but while he was battling cancer, he often struggled to sleep at night. It was on one of those nights that Darin decided he wanted to build a man cave in his garage.

On Craigslist, he found someone who wanted their old barn taken down and to sell the lumber, which he decided would be the perfect material to fit out his man cave.

“After building his man cave, where we still watch football games and host poker nights to this day, he got a few calls from people looking for someone to take down a building for the lumber,” Tyler said. This gave Darin the idea of reclaiming the old wood from those barns, so it could be used in new projects like his man cave, and “the rest is history.”

Reclaiming Wood

After finishing his college education, Tyler joined his father in taking down old barns and envisioning new uses for the lumber.

They now have a shop with thousands of square feet of lumber ready for a new life, which they sell to contractors, builders, developers, businesses, and homeowners who want to renovate or build something new with it.

One of Tyler’s personal favorites is a house renovated using reclaimed lumber throughout its whole structure, including the ceiling which features different shades and tones of natural patina. Another favorite is a kitchen table he and Darin made together for his mom. The wood came from a farmhouse built in the 1880s in their hometown of Lecompton, with legs made of hand-turned barn beams.

“Not only did the table turn out beautifully, it also carried with it a great history,” Tyler said. “And the fact that the lumber was sourced so close by just added to the connection we have with the finished project.”

Tyler relishes the connection to our past. “These buildings are history, our history,” he said. “Once they’re gone, they’re gone. So I like to look at what we do as ‘reclaiming history’ because although we may only be saving pieces [of the buildings] in many cases, we are also saving the story, the memories, and the craftsmanship in every piece and in every barn we reclaim.”

Tyler adds that reclaiming the wood often helps the barn’s owner to come to terms with the demolition. Usually, the barns have been part of the family for generations and carry a lot of memories with them, so tearing them down can be emotionally hard for the owners.

“Being able to show the building owners what happens to the wood after we get done with it and some of the amazing projects that come out of it, really helps let them know that none of it goes to waste, and its materials will continue to live on for years, even though the barn itself may be gone,” Tyler said. “It’s making the best out of a tough situation.”

Working with old wood has shown Tyler and his father stark differences between how things were built in the past compared to today.

“One of the biggest differences between these old buildings and modern ones is in the materials used. Back then, they only cut down the best trees.“ Tyler said. ”[It was] old growth lumber, hundreds of years old, and as a result, [a] much higher quality wood …

“Today it’s all about quantity over quality, whatever grows the fastest to meet a higher demand. There’s also a lot more regulations on harvesting lumber these days that make it harder to even have access to the stuff they were using in the era these barns were built.”

Overcoming Challenges

Tyler was born with cerebral palsy, so he has always had to do things differently, but there’s not much he can’t do when he puts his mind to it.

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His day starts between 5:30 and 6 a.m., running the business’s social media. At around 8 a.m. he heads to the shop, while their small crew might head out to a barn that needs salvaging. There, he focuses on pulling nails and cleaning up lumber to prepare it for sale. He might help a few customers pick out lumber and even sell the occasional dozen chicken eggs as well.

“People who come out to our shop or see what I post on social media are often surprised at the amount of work I can get done, the heavy weight I’m able to lift and maneuver while doing my job, and the work ethic I have,” he said. “But to me, I don’t know any different.”

For Tyler, being in a wheelchair isn’t a limitation but an opportunity to find ways to get things done that otherwise might seem impossible.

“I like to affectionately refer to my chair as my ‘work truck’ because it’s just another tool I use to be able to get the job done.”

Reflecting on his journey with Bald Eagle Barn Wood, Tyler says, “I never imagined that our little business would have grown into what it has today, and here we are, almost 15 years later, still building and working on a dream that was born out of tough circumstance and lots of perseverance.”

Considering the struggles he and his dad have taken on to help give a second life to old lumber, Tyler encourages others to find and chase their own dreams.

“If you have a dream, chase it! Don’t let other people’s perceived limitations, or even your own, get in the way of the things you want to accomplish. We only get one shot in this life and regardless of the hand you may have been dealt, give it your all, have a positive attitude, and you never know where that life might take you!”

By Tyler Wilson and Ileana Alescio | The Epoch Times News Service