by Steven D. Johnson
Racine, Wisconsin
(Page 2 of 4)
Previous Page
1
2
3
4
Next Page
"A Reverence For Wood" by Eric Sloane
A non-woodworking friend with an eclectic reading appetite sent me "A Reverence For Wood" by Eric
Sloane. After reading it, I suffered a moment of panic fearing that it might no longer be available
for purchase, and it is definitely worth your time. Thankfully it is
available from Highland
Woodworking
, and it is a gem. In it, Eric Sloane, author of "A Museum of Early American Tools"
(also
available from Highland)
, looks at how wood was used (and sometimes abused) in early America…
its significance in our history, its value, and its contribution to our way of life.
From the numerous early American colonial flags that featured trees, to the British Navy
commandeering our very best specimens, it is apparent that America once had an abundance of this
beautiful and valuable natural resource and that early settlers were proud of their newfound
commodity. Trees and the wood they produced were not only a part of our nation's wealth, they were a
large part of the reason other countries wanted to own us. Our most visible and abundant natural
resource was one root of the trouble that ultimately led to our desire for independence.
Mr. Sloane, who passed away just after his eightieth birthday in 1985, held wood, the people who
work the wood, and the objects made from wood, in high esteem, as evidenced by his artful prose
about early America and its woodworkers. For example, he says, "Wood was not accepted simply as the
material for building a new nation – it was an inspiration. Gentle to the touch, exquisite to
contemplate, tractable in creative hands, stronger by weight than iron, wood was, as William Penn
had said, ‘a substance with a soul.'"
In discussing the woods used and styles employed in building doors, Mr. Sloane said, "In pioneer
days, doors were often symbols. Just as girls filled hope chests, young men planned doors for
houses they would someday build." I will bet that in this section alone, you will learn something
you never knew about door designs. I certainly did.
(Page 2 of 4)
Previous Page
1
2
3
4
Next Page
Return to
Wood News
front page
