Old Wood Finds New Homes

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By Steve Wellman

Story Published: Aug 22, 2008 at 5:20 PM PDT

It was a hidden treasure we first told you about months ago; large antique wooden beams and posts inside the old Yakima Coop building. When Action News learned the building was set for demolition, we took action and put the owners in touch with a lumber reclamation company.

Fast forward to today. Crews are on site, bringing the building down, but carefully preserving the valuable old lumber.

"I would imagine by this afternoon they'll be into the bigger beams," says Yakima Coop's Pat Long. Long adds that it's a nostalgic day. "Oh a little bit," he smiles. I'm not sad to see it go because it's an old dangerous building. But there's a lot of history in there."

Steve Wellman says, "The last time we showed you these beams they were up in the building. Now they're being stacked here, ready to go to the recycling mill in Minnesota. Look at the end-grain here: very old wood, we think it's Fir. It's the kind old growth wood you just can't get anymore."

Now the old wood will have a new life, as it's made into planks for floors, siding, even furniture. The recyclers Duluth Timber, have clients all across America, including Bill Gates. They sold him all the old wood for his home in Seattle.

"He will cut it to a builder's requirements so if you want to build a home with some nice clear timber he's the guy to talk to," says Yakima Coop owner Skolque.

Other materials will also be recycled: the corrugated steel you see here, and the copper and aluminum from old wiring inside the building.

So as the old makes way for the new, parts of this historic old structure will provide decades more use for other buildings far and wide. All part of the growing movement toward recycling old building materials to help save our environment.

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