A Nod To The Knob!

Garlan Gudger, Jr’s fascination with door knobs began as a young boy. He would spend hours sifting through the buckets of knobs sitting around his father’s antique shop looking for just the right ones that caught his eye. He quickly learned to recognize the knobs that were unique, even rare, and would pull those aside to add to his own stockpile. Over the years his fascination grew from rummaging through the store to seeking out specific knobs to add to his ever growing collection… a collection that has grown into one of the largest in the nation.

Ask Garlan which knob is his favorite and you may get a different answer each time. There are SO many to choose from! One that he often points out as his favorite is an unfinished buffalo knob. This oval knob still has the casting tab attached and is missing the shank. When this design was taken out of production by the manufacturer, this particular knob was cast aside and never finished. The knob, to Garlan, represents a wonderful work of art in progress. It is a rare and prized acquisition, one that Garlan sought out as an addition to his collection.

A fan favorite among visitors to our showroom is the Ludwig Kreuzinger “doggie” knob. This hand crafted design from the 1870′s has been acclaimed a masterpiece of industrial art by collectors. Many would deem this knob as their most prized acquisition. The animal designs included in Garlan’s collection always draw attention from spectators and include several dogs, lions, deer, and a hummingbird, among others. The intricate detailing of each one is simply fascinating.

Looking through the collection it would be hard to ignore the vast accumulation of glass, mercury, and crystal knobs. Clear to colored glass, smooth to cut crystal, controlled bubble mercury glass, the sparkle and shine of each one quickly catches the eye.

The entire door knob collection is currently on display in Southern Accents showroom. Stop in for a visit and tell us which one is your favorite! Of course if you’re looking for a little door bling of your own, we have a large selection of antique knobs and backplates to choose from. Whether you fancy cast brass, glass, or porcelain, we are sure that you will find the perfect knob that will add just the right amount of character to your door. Visit us online or stop by our showroom to view our ever growing selection.

The lion was probably the most popular animal motifs used by 19th century industrial artists.

This controlled bubble knob catches everyone’s eye!

Another favorite… the Irish Setter knob, circa 1890.

Beautiful glass & crystal knobs

Southern Makers… Success!

Gather the most talented group of artists, craftsman, chefs, musicians and designers in Alabama for one day in a curated event and what do you get… Southern Makers Success! We were privileged to be able to ‘set the stage’ for this debut festival at the historic Union Station Train Shed in Montgomery, Alabama this past Saturday. The first time event was extremely well received, drawing an estimated crowd of around 1,500 despite questionable weather earlier in the day. If you missed this event you will want to mark your calendars and make plans now for next year… we’re going back!

Southern Accents jumped on the band wagon a little late in the game, but it didn’t take us long to catch up! We worked tirelessly for several weeks proceeding this event designing and constructing five unique areas for the sold out festival: the entrance, stage, work shop area, inspiration chalkboard, and the “collage” dumpster wall. Southern Accents mission to rescue, restore, and protect articles of historic significance fit seamlessly with the overall theme of this event.

Timber frame entrance built specifically for the Southern Makers festival

Southern Makers attendees first view Saturday afternoon was a timber frame entrance that we constructed specifically for the event. We couldn’t help but show off our new toy, a 1955 Chevy truck, parked just outside the entrance! Inside the shed, we transformed the wood fencing surrounding the dumpster into an artistic display of salvaged goods. Our large “What Inspires You” chalk board was in the middle so the kids and “kids at heart” could draw and write about what inspires them. Throughout the day, many took time to leave their mark on the board, letting us know where they derive their inspiration.

Brightly colored doors, salvaged wood, windows, chain drapery and antique wood carts created an artistic ”stage’ for the performers

A wall of brightly colored antique doors created a backdrop for the stage which was fronted by salvaged barnwood. Windows connected with chain and decorative chain drapery seemed to hang from the sky overhead, while wooden carts were scattered around to create seating.

Rounded church windows, old shutters and a salvaged wood table top created just the right atmosphere for the workshop area.

The background for the workshop area was a gorgeous display of arched church windows and old shutters. We also constructed an artistic table from a collage of different colored salvaged wood, beadboard and fluted trim that served as a display counter for the various speakers.

If you were one of the fortunate ones to get a ticket for this exciting, sold out event we would love to hear from you! Stop by our Facebook page and leave us a comment. Let us know what you loved most about the event. Tell us which spot you enjoyed the most:

1.  Stage & Backdrop
2. “Collage” Dumpster Wall
3. Inspiration Chalkboard
4. Timber Frame Entrance
5. Workshop Area.

We are already brainstorming to come up with new design ideas for next year’s festival!

The “What Inspires You’ chalk board drew a lot of attention!

The dumpster wall was constructed from a collage of antique and salvaged items

A close up of the dumpster wall.

Southern Accents 1955 Chevy was on display just outside the entrance

One of four trailers loaded and ready to roll to Montgomery!

Southern Accents at Southern Makers

There has been an artistic renaissance developing in Alabama for the past several years. Creative artisans in the fields of food, fashion, art, architecture, and music, all passionate about their individual industry, have been working independently to promote their wares. This Saturday they will all gather in one location for the first time! The historic Union Station Train Shed in Downtown Montgomery, Alabama will host a juried selection of talented artists and craftsmen, the best of the best, from across the state. Saturday, May 4th from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm this highly-curated, one day event will bring together legendary artists, chefs, craftspeople, farmers, brewers, purveyors, designers and musicians. Event goers will be able to explore the creative heritage that is Alabama through demonstrations, workshops, tastings, conversations and concerts. There will also be a curated market bazaar featuring goods for sale from Alabama’s top makers. All proceeds from Southern Makers will benefit E.A.T South, a non-profit organization that encourages healthy lifestyles through education and sustainable food production in urban areas throughout the Southeast.

This event, which is rapidly gaining momentum with guests flying in from as far away as New York and L.A., began with a simple idea. Andrea Jean, Tiffany Bell and a few other like minded individuals recognized the immense amount of creative talent that existed across our great state. Traveling around Alabama to experience the various offerings of so many talented artists would take weeks. Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, along with Matter, a design consulting firm, and E.A.T. South joined forces to create Southern Makers. “GMC and Matter are all about creativity and collaboration in all that they do so creating an event like this for the community, artisans and to further economic development in downtown Montgomery made sense,” said Andrea. “E.A.T. South is a charity that we care about and support. Partnering with them and expanding on last year’s Alabama All Star Food Festival was a good fit.”

When Southern Accents owner Garlan Gudger was approached about becoming involved with this project, he jumped at the chance. “In recent years, Southern Accents has had the opportunity to incorporate architectural salvage into projects for many of the individual makers. There has never been an event like this designed to bring everyone together. We are thrilled to be able to bring our creative ideas to the table in designing and installing the arena for this momentous event. The chance to join forces and work side-by-side with a collective group of the most talented people from across the state is exciting. Southern Accents responsibility is to use their architectural salvage to create an atmosphere for the show that inspires not only the makers but attendees as well,” said Garlan. Garlan will be a panelist for the conversation series “Revitalization of Places Past” which will take place Saturday at 5:00 pm inside the historic Montgomery Visitor Center.

Discounted pre-sale tickets are available at www.southernmakers.com for $10 per adult and $5 for children ages 10 to 15. Visit www.southernmakers.com for a complete list of makers, workshops, conversation series, and other info.

2 Years Later…

April 27, 2011… a day long to be remembered and often discussed by those of us who bore witness to the utter destruction that nature leashed upon us. We had several days warning of the impending storms. The news media had tagged the weather forecast for that day as a set up for ‘the perfect storm’. No one in our town was immune. By day’s end, if you had not suffered some form of property damage, you knew someone who had. Hundreds of businesses across the city alone had been damaged, dozens within a four block radius destroyed. A greater number of homes, many over 100 years old, heavily damaged or completely obliterated. No favoritism was shown by the twisters that day as churches were reduced to rubble. Our streets were lined with ancient hardwoods that once faithfully took on the colors of each passing season creating a picturesque scene likened to a Thomas Kinkade painting. Folks across our city have mourned the passing of so many of our beautiful trees as our landscape was forever changed by an F4 tornado.

Southern Accents – damage following the tornado and weeks later.

Southern Accents – 2013

Downtown Cullman took a direct hit that day during a second wave of tornadic activity. The destruction was like nothing any of us had ever seen before. A war zone was the only proper description for the piles of rubble, scattered debris and unrecognizable terrain in the downtown area. As soon as the storms passed, the streets were filled with people. Friends and strangers alike immediately took action checking on the health and safety of everyone that was passing. The buzz of chainsaws filled the air as the many felled trees were quickly cut away in an attempt to clear a path for emergency and rescue workers. Strangers showed up to help business owners gather scattered goods. Storm warnings continued in to the night as word began to spread of the unimaginable destruction that was being levied across our state.

The days and weeks to follow showed proof of what we had known all along; our community spirit came together like never before. Our resolve was tested and we passed with flying colors. Those who managed to escape the storms unscathed worked side by side with those who had lost everything. It has been a long journey, but two years later, our city and the people who call it home is better for having weathered the storms. Although the landscape is forever changed, the downtown is coming back stronger than ever. After the storms, the City Council established design guidelines to help preserve the historical aesthetics of downtown Cullman as well as offered incentives to business owners to encourage revitalization. The revitalization effort, which was started well in advance of this fateful day, was actually jump started by the storms.

The Little Bit shop – a total loss

The All Steak opened the doors of it’s brand new restaurant in March of 2013. The restaurant was built in the former location of the Little Bit shop.

Many businesses that were destroyed, like the Busy Bee Café, have rebuilt and reopened. Some, for various reasons, chose not to rebuild, giving way to new businesses in the downtown area. The Little Bit store, which suffered a complete loss, was one business that chose not to rebuild. Just last month, the All Steak restaurant opened it’s doors in Little Bit’s old location. The All Steak incorporated brick and other materials salvaged after the storm into it’s beautiful new building. Eastside Baptist and Christ Luthern Churches both suffered total losses on April 27th. Their rebuilding process is quickly coming to a close as both facilities are nearing completion and will be reopening their doors in the coming months. Although boarded up windows and blue tarps can still be spotted in the area, recovery efforts are around 95% complete.

Christ Lutheran Church – reduced to rubble

Christ Lutheran Church – Re-construction process nearing completion 2 years later

As the two year anniversary draws near, still vivid memories will prompt stories that will once again be shared, stories of courage, kindness, sacrifice and perseverance. The face of our town looks different, most would say even better. As recovery efforts continue we are reminded that it is the people of Cullman, not the buildings, that make this a very unique and special place. We would not want to be anywhere else!

This pile of rubble was all that remained of Lee Powell Insurance Agency after the storms

Lee Powell Insurance Agency – 2 years after the storm.

Barkley Plumbing was one of the businesses on this block that was obliterated.

Barkley Plumbing rebuilt in the same location. The lot next door remains empty

The Busy Bee Cafe reopened it’s doors on the one year anniversary of the tornado that destroyed the restaurant.

The historical “Green House” suffered significant damage but thankfully was not a total loss

“The Green House” was repaired and became the new home to The Candle Garden a year after the storms.

Eerie reminders remain 2 years later – buildings were marked as rescue workers searched for survivors. No lives were lost in downtown Cullman that day.

Although blue tarps and boarded windows can still be found downtown, recovery efforts are 95% complete!

Written by: Lisa Jones

Edited by: Garlan Gudger, Jr.

Calling All Shutterbugs – Photo Contest

Mark your calendars… Southern Accents is having a photo contest on Saturday, April 27th! We get constant requests from photographers asking to use our showroom, outdoor lots and alley for location shoots. One of the things we love most about photographers is that each one sees the treasures in our showroom from a different perspective. The same scene shot numerous times looks different depending on the person behind the lens. With our ever changing inventory, the landscape of our showroom is constantly changing, creating a continuous need for new photos. They say a picture paints a thousand words… we use thousands of pictures to promote our business online as well as in print.

The contest will take place beginning at 9:00 am until 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 27th. You do not have to be a professional photographer to enter. Amateurs, bloggers, photo hobbyists, shutterbug wannabe’s are welcome. The contest will be open to the first 30 people to show up that Saturday, digital camera in hand, ready to register for the event. Registration will begin promptly at 9:00 am. Each participant will be allowed to submit up to 5 digital photos via e-mail. All submissions must be sent to saccents1969@gmail.com by 5:00 pm on Sunday, April 28th. One winning photo will be selected by a panel of judges. The winner will receive a $250 cash prize! The winning photo will be announced by Friday, May 3rd.

The purpose of the contest is to open up our showroom, warehouses, and outdoor lots to those interested in photographing our inventory of beautiful architectural antiques. In return, we get to use the photo submissions to help promote our business. Each participant will be asked to sign a copyright release form upon registration. Please CLICK HERE to read the contest rules and fine print as well as print off a copy of the release form. Please address any questions you may have to: lisa@sa1969.com.

We are going to be taking a few pictures of our own that day! We want to get snap shots of our customers and find out where you are from! We are constantly amazed at how far some of our customers travel just to visit our showroom! We will be taking pictures and documenting travel distances for an upcoming online feature. We want to make this a fun filled day for everyone involved so… we will have the Big Green Egg going in the alley! We’ll be giving away grilled burgers, dogs, and ice cold drinks around lunch time!! Plan now to join us for this exciting event! Get your cameras ready, set, shoot!

By: Lisa Jones

Saving The Spire

One of the most striking architectural features on many Victorian style homes is the towering spire. These tall, metal structures reaching towards the sky are hard to ignore. Typically affixed to a turret, at first glance one would think they are a type of lightening rod, but their purpose is far from that of attracting bolts of electricity. Actually, their presence is purely decorative and symbolic. Mostly seen on churches, they portray a hopeful, celestial gesture towards heaven. Affixed to the turret on a home, they are viewed as a symbol of wealth and prestige. Spires are, by some accounts, the defining image of Victorian homes. Their ostentatious display screams “look at me” to many a passer by. We took notice, and with an err of determination, set forth on a mission to save one spire!

One of the houses that we recently salvaged in Little Rock, Arkansas was a majestic 1890 Queen Anne style Victorian that sat downtown just off the river. As we began the deconstruction process, the galvanized tin spire was impossible to ignore. It was an architectural element of the house that we refused to leave behind for the bulldozers. We discovered that the turret had been struck by lightning in 1976. During the repair of the turret, this spire was placed in the attic, where it remained for the next 20 years. In 1996 Little Rock saw it returned to it’s rightful place by home owner, Mr. Hammond. The spire, which is in immaculate condition, remained there until it was successfully removed during our recent salvage operation.

Removing the spire was an interesting feat, to say the least. It involved a lift and a harrowing episode with a chain saw 50 feet high in the air. We were fortunate to have videographer Greg Spradlin from Camp Friday Films in Little Rock along for the ride. Greg put together an awesome video, documenting the removal of this incredible artifact along with it’s journey from Arkansas to Alabama. You can watch the VIDEO by Clicking Here.

Upon it’s arrival at Southern Accents, the top of the turret, which was cut and removed with the spire in tact, was stripped of all the old shingles. The weathered wood provides the perfect backdrop for this treasure. Although this is one of those rare finds that we would love to enjoy for a while, the spire is currently available for sale and can be viewed online by Clicking Here. If you are within driving distance, the spire is currently on display in our showroom. We’re sure it will be a traffic stopper just as it was as it sat atop the majestic Victorian house on Cantrell Road.

Written by: Lisa Jones

Edited by: Garlan Gudger, Jr.

A Lesson In History – Figural Tiles

Last week we talked about our jaw dropping reaction when we first saw pictures of the two historic houses in Little Rock and were contacted about our interest in salvaging them. We knew we had to come to the rescue of the antique artifacts that lay within, the most impressive being the seven unbelievable mantels and the figural tile sets they encased. In our 44 years of business we have rarely seen a tile collection housed under one roof the likes of these. Each of the seven fireplaces framed beautiful glazed tile, many showcasing incredible figural tiles from the American Encaustic Tiling Company dating back to the 1890′s.

Most of the figural tiles were sold on location to local residents, many of whom have a keen interest in preserving a piece of their city’s history. We do however want to share a few pictures, as well as a bit of history surrounding these tiles, in an effort to create an awareness of the antique artifacts that are needlessly lost when property owners demolish old structures without allowing salvage companies, like Southern Accents, the opportunity to rescue objects of historical significance.

These magnificent tiles came from the American Encaustic Tiling Co. (A.E.T.) in Zanesville, Ohio. At one time this company was reported to be the largest tile manufactory in the world. Founded in 1875, the company produced a wide variety of wall and floor tiles as well as very decorative art tiles. By 1890 there was a need to expand the rapidly growing company. A new plant was built in Zanesville, Ohio and dedicated on April 19, 1892. The celebration was attended by 20,000 people, arriving by foot, train, boat and horse-drawn carriage. The company remained a boom to the Zanesville community for the next 40 years, closing in 1935, being a victim of the Great Depression.

During this time, A.E.T. had a major presence in New York City, not just as a producer of floor and wall tiles, but also as a creator of art tiles and tiles used in architecture. Leon V. Solon became the artistic director of the company and created impressive showrooms at the 41st street location in Manhattan around 1912. In the 1920′s, Solon re-designed the A.E.T. showrooms, making them a “virtual tile museum”. Preservationists were unsuccessful in their attempts to landmark the building in 1993. Most, if not all, of the tiled interior has been demolished by tenants and landlords over the previous years.

This image is the American Encaustic Tiling Co. stamp located on the back of several of the figural tiles. Stamps and what we call “maker’s marks” are paramount in helping us track the history of antique artifacts.

We view these colorful, glazed pieces of earthenware as incredible works of art. We feel privileged to be given the opportunity to save these works for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. In our continuing mission to promote the preservation of our architectural heritage through rescuing, restoring, and protecting artifacts of historical significance, we are thrilled to be able to share our mission with you each week through pictures and stories via our newsletter.

The first image above shows one of the seven tile sets and surrounding mantel before it was removed from the historical 1890 Bruner house in Little Rock, Arkansas. This set is available for purchase. Click Here for details.

Written by: Lisa Jones

Edited by: Garlan Gudger, Jr.

The Life Of A Mantel – Behind The Paint

When we were first contacted regarding our interest in salvaging the two 1890 houses in Little Rock, Arkansas that were scheduled for demolition, we marveled at the pictures sent to us. The exterior pictures would have been enough to catch our eye. The interior pictures are what produced a jaw dropping reaction among our team. The pictures revealed some of the most beautiful architectural pieces we have seen in our 54 years of business. The pictures that garnered the strongest reaction from us were the mantels… all seven of them! Beautiful, majestic, carved mantels, each one framing elegant tile sets. Several of the mantels were purchased on location, so we only returned to Cullman with four, one of which was a painted mantel. Being painted, the wood grain was covered. We weren’t expecting to find a surprise ‘behind the paint’. We immediately sent the mantel to our wood shop to have the paint stripped off and to our surprise and great delight we discovered that underneath all the old paint was an exquisite mantel made of birdseye maple. This mantel quickly moved to the top of our favorite item list!

Birdseye mantel in the strip tank.

We only see an artifact made from birdseye maple about once a year. It is a rare wood not commonly seen in antique items except in high quality pieces. Back when all furniture was made by hand, birdseye maple was only used by the most skilled artisans. It was a rather difficult wood to work with. The fine threads of the wood would easily catch and tear the grain. Because of this, items made from birdseye were extremely labor intensive. Many sawmills when faced with a run of birdseye would cut and use it as firewood! Today modern tools are available that make working with this stunning wood much easier.

The mantel top in the strip tank. The natural beauty of the wood showing as the old paint dissolves.

No one really knows for sure how or why this pattern occurs in the wood grain. It is found in several species of wood but is most commonly seen in hard maple. The very distinctive pattern resembles tiny, swirling eyes that disrupt the smooth lines of the grain, somewhat reminiscent of a burl but not quite the same. Could the cause of this phenomenon be some tiny pecking birds deforming the wood grain or possibly an infectious fungus or insect? Perhaps it is the result of a genetic mutation. The exact cause is irrelevant. One doesn’t need to understand the reason to appreciate the sheer beauty of this magnificent wood!

Birdseye mantel, stripped of the old paint, waiting for the final cleaning

The stripping process on this mantel is complete. It is now awaiting it’s final cleaning. The original beveled glass mirrors will be reinstalled and the mantel will take it’s place in our showroom. This birdseye mantel is currently for sale and can be viewed online by Clicking Here. We can’t wait to discover who the lucky new owner will be, but when the time comes this is one of those rare pieces that we will be sad to see leave our showroom.

Birdseye mantel before it was removed from the 1890 Bruner house in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Written by: Lisa Jones

Edited by: Garlan Gudger, Jr.

3 Generations – Tripp On His First Salvage Trip!

One of our primary goals at Southern Accents is to preserve the stories of the architectural elements we obtain. Having a family owned and operated business for 54 years means that we have a treasure trove of personal stories to tell as well. Dr. Gudger started this business in 1969 when his love for collecting architectural antiques quickly filled up his garage and he decided to take his hobby to the next level, turning it into a small business. 54 years later his son, Garlan, Jr. now manages the business and is passing his love for preserving the past to his two sons, Garlan III (Tripp) and Pierce.

Dr. Gudger, Garlan Gudger, Jr. & Garlan Gudger III (Tripp)

Garlan, Jr. reflects, “Growing up as a child I remember watching my father work hard at something he was passionate about. He would often ask me on Saturday morning if I wanted to go to work with him. There weren’t many Saturdays that I did not accompany him. I would sweep floors and put coal in the furnace on chilly mornings to heat the store. We were the only business on our block in the down town area at that time. As a young boy, I would spend hours searching the store for treasure. My dad would take old door knobs that he collected and dump them in buckets. I would go through every bucket and examine each individual knob. I would pick out the ones that were ornate or had unusual faces and unique designs which is how I started collecting door knobs. My father encouraged my imagination by allowing me the freedom to create things from salvage pieces I would find in the store. Each day in the store was an adventure! Working alongside my dad, I not only developed my own passion for historical artifacts, but I also gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from listening to his stories. By the time I was 13, elderly friends and customers would come by the store and were always surprised that this kid knew more about the ‘old stuff’ than they did! Now 37 years old, I don’t remember a day I haven’t helped with this business in some way. As a grown man, I am still hunting for treasure. Instead of digging through buckets of knobs, I now realize that the true treasure lies in preserving the stories and history of the artifacts that we collect. My father’s passion for historical preservation of significant architectural pieces is something that I now want to pass on to my two boys.”

Dr. Gudger mentoring Tripp on his first salvage mission. This post which Tripp removed will remain a family keepsake.

If you have been following our posts these past two week’s you already know that we have been salvaging two houses in Arkansas, one of which is on the national register. Even though salvaging these houses is a double edged sword for our family, we are thankful that the owners gave us the opportunity for such a significant find. Three generations of the Gudger family traveled together for Phase I of the salvage operation; Dr. Gudger, Garlan Jr. and for the first time Garlan III (Tripp). Tripp’s first salvage job saw his Grandfather watching over and mentoring him… all the while encouraging that same passion for architectural salvage that he instilled in his own son Garlan Jr. years ago. Tripp has started asking questions and showing an interest in the business that Garlan Jr. is hoping to foster in both his sons. There just might be a few floor sweeping days for the young Gudger boys in the very near future!

Tripp Gudger on his first salvage mission!

#wesaveoldstuff

If you have been following our blog, Facebook posts or newsletter, you already know that this past week found us very busy with a sizeable salvage project in Arkansas. We were questioned numerous times on site in Little Rock as to why we were taking apart these beautiful historical homes. Our primary mission has always been: “To promote the preservation of our architectural heritage through rescuing, restoring, and protecting artifacts of historical significance.” We have always prided ourselves in never taking historical fabric from a structure that has not already been scheduled for demolition. There is nothing more enjoyable to us than seeing historical structures renovated and brought back to life. But we all have watched in horror as buildings have been crumbled and reduced to rubble by a wrecking ball, taking with it recyclable material and, at times, beautiful, irreplaceable architectural pieces that could have been rescued. When a historic building or structure has been scheduled for demolition, for whatever reason, Southern Accents is the company that you want to see on the scene ahead of the bulldozers.

The purpose behind our recent salvage job in Little Rock Arkansas, and every structure that we have gone into over the past 54 years, is so that we can rescue and restore the artistry of the architectural pieces we are able to obtain. By restoring these fragments, the history and craftsmanship are protected for many more years to come. What we do is nothing short of an architectural rescue mission… We save old stuff!

Much of the architectural salvage pieces that we call “building art” is hand crafted and/or hand carved. We value these pieces as treasured works of art. Most items would be hard to replicate or even impossible to reproduce because of cost, time and lack of craftsmanship. We parallel the intent of purposely destroying these architectural pieces as being equivalent to the destruction of a prized historical painting. By helping protect these building arts, we believe that Southern Accents is at the forefront of historical preservation by salvaging and recycling as much as possible before the wrecking ball arrives. If given enough time, we try to save everything we can right down to the wall studs, rafters, exterior siding, and brick as well as any architectural component that has any character or integrity in the interior.

Everyone should realize that the SUM of the individual pieces, taken out of a structure during a salvage job, will never equal the TOTAL of the architectural splendor when it was placed together in its entirety. Knowing that fact, it is our goal to salvage the historical, artistic, hand-crafted relics of architecture from each structure thus allowing the story of each home or building we tear down to live on for generations. We love it when people walk through our showroom and we are able to give them the history of an architectural relic. When we tell the story of a particular item, we know, that in a small way, we had a hand in preserving and documenting the history and story of where that item came from for future generations. We take pride in the accomplishments we have been able to make these past 54 years of business and look forward to continuing our mission of rescuing, restoring, and protecting for years to come.