The Story Behind Our Products

 Aberfoyle Oak is a local family venture. While we operate out of our home (just north of the Aberfoyle Antique Market), the story of our products stretches over many miles and spans three generations.

In 1973 in the historic town of Greenwich, Connecticut, a four-story office building was completed on the prestigious West Putnam Avenue. The lobby of that building was adorned with a decorative ceiling made of solid oak – the oak from which our table and benchtops are made.

We understand that red oak usually lives about 200 years and can be as old as 400 years. We do not know how old the trees were when they were harvested and used in the lobby, but given the large size of the boards, we know they were not young trees.

With the first use of the wood nearly 50 years ago, it would not be unrealistic to think the wood is 150 years old or more.

 
 
 

Hundreds of miles from Greenwich, and also in the 70s, another exciting development was taking place. Just outside of the village of Shanty Bay, Ontario, our grandparents started a new chapter in their lives. They purchased a dairy farm and moved their family, including our father, to the country.

Their farm sat on 100 acres and was home to about 65 Ontario Holsteins. The steel for our table legs comes from the dairy stable of our grandparents’ farm.

 
 

Greenwich is the most southerly town in Connecticut and the six states known as New England. With its ocean waterfront, quick access to New York City, rich history, and New England charm, it has attracted many recognizable names.

Current or past residents of Greenwich include individuals such as:

  • Singer Dianna Ross

  • Actor George C. Scott

  • Designer Tommy Hilfiger

  • NHL Star Pat LaFontaine

  • Actor and Director Ron Howard

  • Author A. J. Cronin

  • Singer and TV Host Kathie Lee Gifford

And even actress Mary Tyler Moore.

The neat thing is that the anchor tenant of the office building was the reputable Putnam Bank and Trust Company. As such, any number of these notable personalities could have regularly passed beneath the oak boards used for our tabletops.

 
 

Tucked between the growing city of Barrie and the still quaint village of Shanty Bay, our grandparents’ farm has been home to some outstanding Holsteins.

Past residents of the farm include:

  • Ruby

  • Elizabeth

  • Faith

  • Rose

And even Flow, the pride of our grandparents’ herd.

The neat thing is that any one of these Holsteins could have slept next to the steel used to build our table legs.

 
 

In the mid 1990s the lobby of the West Putnam office was redone, and the oak boards were acquired by our father. They made their way to Aberfoyle via Boston, where they spent four years in the early 2000s.

In 2020 we started transforming the lobby boards into tabletops. The process requires many steps including: cutting, planing, joining, routering, sanding, sanding, and more sanding. Seven layers of finishing products are used to create an attractive and durable finish.

 
 
 

There are no longer cattle on our grandparents’ farm. The stable has not been used for many years. We began collecting steel for our table legs in 2021 and took comfort in the knowledge that the steel was originally intended to retain huge Holstein cattle. These distinctive pipes and connectors provide more than adequate support for our tables.

The good news is that a significant amount of steel was available. The challenge is the number of steps involved to prepare it for use in the table legs. This process includes hours of work with wire brushes and wheels. Along with years of dirt, a layer of galvanization had to be removed so the steel could be safely welded and more readily accept paint.

 

Thank you for visiting our site and considering our tables and benches. Should you choose to purchase an item, we hope that it provides your family with generations of satisfaction. Our family has enjoyed the journey thus far.