JCM Timberworks

06/20/2024

This project started seven years ago when Davey Tree Corporation bought the Kent State Golf Course which is adjacent to their corporate headquarters, with the intention of turning the property into the training headquarters for their company. The first thing they had to do upon purchasing the property was remove the large barn near the entrance due to the Insurance company’s requirements. This moment in time was a perfect storm for us as we had just begun to know Ric Beck, Rudy Christian, and Laura Saeger, all of whom we are still interconnected with and continue to take on projects with. This became the first of many project with the burgeoning collective.

The intent was to use the barn as part of their projected training campus, which sounded great but left us not quite certain of the reality of their intention. In the subsequent years their need for a large amount of custom sawing for the overall project led to one of our employees buying his sawmill and begin custom sawing, which we continue to use today.

A year ago it became obvious that the rebuilding of this enormous barn was going to become a reality, so we began to prepare. All the repairs and modification were completed this winter and a month ago we began the arduous process or rebuild on a commercial construction site. Although multiple factors led to a much longer process than anticipated, all those involved were fantastic to work with!

There are so many people we have to thank for helping us complete a project that will be used with love and care for many decades to come. First of all is Ric Beck, Rudy, and Laura, for trusting us and willing to bring in a young crew to work under their tutelage. Dan Joy, the VP at Davey Tree who has been the most understanding and respectful person to work underneath throughout the entirety of this project. All of the past and current member of the JCM team who have been part of this project. The Holmes Crane crew (Jolene, Ryan, & Taylor) who were flexible and constant throughout the job. And finally the Hawkins Lumber Family, who are part of every project we undertake and created the new material (rafters) for this frame.

07/21/2023

After storms of 2022, the century-old Kauffman barn, located in Holmes County near County Line Road, was rebuilt.

06/26/2023

The second new frame of the year is finally up and ready for roof and siding! This frame is quite special because it's the first new/old barn we've had the opportunity to build. After surviving the straight-line winds of last June, the barn that sat in this location meet its end a month later when a tornado followed the same path and flattened it. Almost a year to the day the insurance company did the right thing by the property owners, a redesign was done, timbers were felled, joinery was chopped, and a new barn was raised!
The Kauffman's (whom own this) are amazing people to work for and are the 5th generation stewards of this property. We are incredibly grateful for their desire to replace what they had with another traditionally timber framed barn with some minor adjustments to facilitate its usefulness in modern farming. The Hawkins Lumber Family are always to thank for the high quality timbers and the last minute needs that come up when cutting a frame with his many timbers!
A huge thanks also goes to Luke Scadden's crane operating skills, Travis Webber and Joey Weaver for the concrete work, and the group of our new & old friends who came out to assist in various components of the raising- Dale, Bill, Andy, Dave, and Atlee.

06/03/2023

This one was a fun frame and project for us, not only was it a local job but the client gave us an abundance of freedom. This was our first Cruck Frame and hopefully not our last. All the naturally curved cherry timbers were selected by us in the woods, felled, then milled by Junior Raber. The A big thanks to Hawkins Lumber for always providing the best White Oak timbers (as always), which make up the posts and plates. Also a big thanks to Aaron Day (D.L. Day Masonry) and Tom Horn for for their great block, stone, and stamped concrete work!

09/06/2022

This past week we finally raised this modified hammer beam frame for a wonderful couple, Jeff & Julie. In the not too distant future it will be the center of their wedding venue just outside of Chillicothe, OH. This frame has been years in the making and took a community of friends and colleagues to make happen! It was also our first (and certainly not last) foray into using naturally curved timbers.

A huge thanks to the family & crew at Hawkins Lumber for providing us with the best material to work with and dealing with our timelines. To Rudy Christian for dabbling into the dark-side of hammer beam design. To Jesse and Margaret Dailey for providing us with much needed extra hands on both raising days. And finally to the the entire JCM crew on great teamwork and joinery!!

07/30/2022

We are very fortunate to have been a part of another teaching workshop/camp, sharing the craft that we love. A huge thanks to those who came and worked hard, making the experience memorable! Also, thank you to the people at Hancock Historical Society and Kiwanis Club for their hospitality, and to Hawkins Lumber for providing us with some great material to work with!

The three-day workshop is helping to build a timber frame pavilion at Brucklacher Memorial Park in Findlay.

07/22/2022

Pictures of the first two days from our time at The Light Foundation’s yearly timber frame camp!

06/24/2022

https://www.limaohio.com/news/513763/built-in-1855-bluffton-barn-finds-new-home

BLUFFTON — Moving a barn is a huge endeavor. The Swiss Homestead, also known as the Schumacher House, offers a glimpse into the lives of Swiss immigr

06/22/2022

05/06/2022

We were fortunate to be a part of this project!

08/30/2021

This has become one of my two favorite events of the year!