I recently visited Reclaimed, “Iron and Wood Redefined”, one of the shops located in the new building on the former site of the Acme in St. Michaels. Reclaimed is a treasure trove of old and new items and the third store in St. Michaels’ shopping district for entrepreneurs Mark and Tracey Miller who are passionate about “rebuilding history one piece at a time.” Their backgrounds in teaching and custom building and their love of history led to their founding a demolition salvage company.
They now travel around the country seeking historic salvage, antiques, vintage pieces, and other treasures rescued from American vernacular-homesteads, old wood barns, and other dilapidated outbuildings in danger of demolition. The Millers take great pride in their extensive research and for being able to convey the historic provenance of the unique items they sell. The reward for their hard work is seeing a customer connect with a piece that has a personal memory for them, perhaps from childhood.
Being passionate about history, Mark and Tracey located their first and second stores, Iron Will Woodworks, “Rebuilding History One Piece at a Time,” and The Boathouse, “An Eastern Shore Journey,” in the historic former Just Right Flour Mill complex that was a working mill from the 1890s to its closing in 1970. Their historic salvage is right at home in this wood-framed building, with most of the Mill equipment still in place. The focus of the Iron Will Woodworks is shabby chic and farmhouse furniture found across their travels in the USA, as well as pieces they custom built from wood salvaged from old barns they took down.
The Boathouse, which opened in April 2019, offers contemporary furniture, local maritime salvage, and nautical decor. Mark and Tracey gutted two floors in a section of the Flour Mill, including one of the original engine rooms, and restored the space to its 1890s historic character. Prominently displayed on the walls are the original black & white Flour Mill photographs the Millers have discovered in their searches.
Reclaimed’s focus is the American Industrial Age and the hard-working American men and women who toiled daily in factories under challenging conditions. The store is stocked with recycled furniture, ironwork, metalwork, home décor, and American made salvage items. Also, you’ll be exposed to two passions that the Millers share: Restoration of “Petroliana” (items relating to gas pumps) and custom-building furniture from iron machine bases discovered in their travels.
On the day I visited, something caught my eye everywhere I looked due to the creative merchandising that made browsing an adventure. First, there was a pair of square coffee tables with iron legs and wood tops, then a group of end tables and a coffee table with convex iron legs with reclaimed wood tops. Other furniture included a variety of wood cupboards, storage pieces, sideboards, tables, end tables, coffee tables, and small chests. The pendant light fixtures hanging from the ceiling are also for sale. I was delighted to find two whimsical sea creatures created by the metal artisan David Dunn, whose work I have featured in the Talbot Spy.
As an architect, I was intrigued by their selection of old barn wood as a wall finish or flooring for residential and commercial use. They offer the wood in several species and finishes to architects, interior designers, and contractors for residential or commercial projects.
Kudos to Mark and Tracey for bringing their unique stores to St. Michaels. Visit their website for information about upcoming events at Reclaimed, including their February 15th event with live music, furniture giveaways, and other surprises. See you there!
Reclaimed, “Iron and Wood Redefined” is located at 114 S. Talbot St., Suite B, in the new commercial building on the former Acme site. For more information, call 267-221-5017, follow them on Facebook @reclaimedmd or on Instagram @reclaimedmaryland or email. Hours are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm seven days a week.
Jennifer Martella has pursued her dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. Her award winning work has ranged from revitalization projects to a collaboration with the Maya Lin Studio for the Children’s Defense Fund’s corporate retreat in her home state of Tennessee.
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