National Hardwood Magazine - December 2021

JOSEY LUMBER COMPANY Continued
The infeed inspection line to the trimmer
was a welcome upgrade at Josey Lumber.
employ 45 people. The sawmill division,
Josey Lumber, cuts approximately
10 to 11 million board feet a
year that includes Hardwood lumber,
The new Trimmer Outfeed at Josey Lumber
from TS Manufacturing improves productivity.
cants and timbers. They manufacture
Red and White Oak, Soft Maple,
Ash, Poplar and Cypress.
Going back to the beginning, Joey
Josey started in the forest products
industry in the mid-1970’s, working
for a friend who owned several sawmills.
It was then that he realized his
goal in life was to operate his own
Hardwood sawmill. The owner of
that large company admired his vision;
however, he told Joey that he
could not manage a job that he had
never done. Joey took that advice to
heart and worked his way through
his friend’s company by initially pulling
lumber and sweeping floors, later
working as planer mill foreman,
purchaser and dry kiln operator. He
learned everything that he could
about machinery, lumber grading,
lumber purchasing and marketing.
In the fall of 1983, Joey started his
own Hardwood sawmill. He passed
his work ethic on to his sons. Now,
they are moving Josey Lumber and
JoCo Lumber forward. n
For more information, call
Josey Lumber Company at
252-826-5614.
AMERICAN CHESTNUT Continued from page 25
Larry Stewart is pictured with a Prime American Chestnut veneer
log.
Chestnut veneer being dried at International Timber & Veneer
during production in Jackson Center, PA.
family made a difficult and reluctant decision to harvest
their trees. They hoped to give the prized wood a second
chance at life and share its wealth one last time with
the world. Wayne Helming made a connection with Chris
Neill and Larry Stewart from Off-Kilter Timber in Eureka,
MT. A forester for the State of Wisconsin recommended
the pair to Wayne, because he felt they all shared the
same passions and appreciation for wood.
In the summer of 2020, Chris and Larry joined Wayne
Helming to see for themselves this mysterious and magnificent
stand of American Chestnuts. Being nothing
short of what the duo had imagined, they seized the opportunity
to bring new life to the wood of these trees.
When asked why he initially agreed to go see the
American Chestnuts halfway across the country, Chris
said, “My mom had a bedroom set made from Chestnut
that she got from her Grandma when I was growing up.
It is how I even knew about Chestnut. I also knew it was
one of those woods that was never available, and you
could never find it”. Chris understood how rare this opportunity
was and how special it could be just to witness
a living stand of American Chestnuts in his lifetime.
“I was blown away. I could not say anything. I had to
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44 DECEMBER 2021 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2021 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 45