Southern Accents: Architectural Salvage Store

All photos in this post by Jamie.  We were upstairs in this big old store and I said "OH, JAMIE!  Take a picture of this FLAG!"   It's so huge!  And, from the years of wear, it was translucent ...making it almost magical.  Turns out to be the coolest picture of the day.

When I was with Jamie last time in Alabama...we  took a trip to one of Alabama's beautiful old towns.  This one is one of many that had been hit really hard by the tornadoes in April.  So hard, that downtown is barely recognizable in parts.  

Driving through, you miss all the large old trees lining the streets, sheltering the beautiful and gracious old southern homes.  It's a sad and a desolate feeling to see homes destroyed and the giant trees ripped into freakish, grotesque shapes that look ghostly.  

It's depressing to see and as much damage as was done,  I have to remind myself that very little life was lost and things can be replaced...

I was glad to see one of my favorite stores downtown was spared.  Yes, it had damage, windows blown out and the front of their store was bunged up a little, yet was still intact.  Thank goodness.  Repairs can be made.

It's a treasure trove, packed full of salvaged parts of old buildings, houses and even old streets.  You want a streetlight from the turn of the century?  They've got it!  Need a mantle to fit your odd sized fireplace?  They've got it!  Need a  stained glass window?  Tub faucet handles, light fixture, hinge, or doorknob to match another you have in your old home?  They probably have it. 

Have a look around.

I even like to sniff, because old things like this smell good--the smell of old wood makes my heart sing, and it makes me remember grandpa.

 A section of what was once a large, marble railing...

I was impressed with the number of iron grates for fireplaces, stacked and sorted.

Someone made crosses out scraps of salvaged wood in colors.  

It's a fascinating place.  You could look for a couple hours and not see everything.

And get this:  Levi LOVES IT there.  He says "Oooh!  Oohh!"  and points at everything, especially the light fixtures overhead.  And he looks and looks and looks, and doesn't want to leave!  

Jamie had a camera in her purse and shot some photos of Levi, all happy in a salvage store.

I couldn't believe it.  He has a junker's soul, and true to his heritage,  he loves old stuff.
It's the fourth generation!  Yahoo yippety!

I want the blue door.  Bad.

I like the mullions above this door.

There are cases full of JUST doorknobs of every sort. 

Lovin' this well-worn workbench in the shop.

Such beauty, everywhere you turn!

Cabinets full of antique and reproduction hardware of every kind imaginable.  

We stepped out into a courtyard via these cool old iron steps behind the store to get into their warehouse where more goodies are stored, and the courtyard was full of interesting outdoor salvage...

I'm SO HAPPY someone saw fit to save all these old beautiful pieces, to start a business so that homeowners of historic homes can come to in order find parts to restore their loved homes to original.

These old pieces have certainly not outgrown their usefulness, even after all these years.  These items can be remade to work if they need to be, or used as they are.  

The practicality, adaptability and usability of vintage items never ceases to amaze.  The quality and the beauty of the handwork done by talented tradesmen of the past once surrounded people in nearly every room in their home.  It's a beautiful thing to behold.  And it lives on, long may it live.

SOUTHERN ACCENTS.

PS:  I really, really like big, old, beautiful DOORS.