William Jewell sawing historic lumber. Photo: HWAAt Historical Woods of America, everything we make has been rescued from a downed tree or existing structure. We provide these fallen timbers with new life as fine writing instruments, furniture, artwork, sculpture, historical memorabilia, flooring, architectural moldings and raw lumber.

The following links offer brief snapshots of some of the projects which are currently in the works.

James Madison's Montpelier Estate
Cedar of Lebanon

This tree was dated to at least 15 years prior to James Madison's death in 1836. President Madison was known to have planted four Cedar of Lebanon tress on the grounds of Montpelier.

At the entrance to the Montpelier garden is the largest of several Cedars of Lebanon, this one certainly planted during James Madison’s lifetime. This statement is based on data collected from another cedar of Lebanon on the grounds which fell from the weight of ice on it during a 1995 ice storm. That tree had a circumference one inch larger than our subject tree and was found to have 173 annual rings on one side of the trunk. Subtracting 173 from 1995 suggests that the two trees in this account were planted in the early 1820s or about fifteen years before Madison’s death. A wafer cut from the fallen tree was sent to Dr. Jay Stipes at Virginia Tech for further study. A local tradition said that the three largest cedars of Lebanon were a gift from France to James Madison presented by Lafayette during his visit to Montpelier in 1824.

We have now secured a very limited amount of this wood from a private owner. This is the tree came down in an ice storm in the Winter of 1995, as mentioned above.

James Monroe's Ash Lawn-Highland
White Oak, est. 300-400 years old
One large branch, which was in decline, has been removed from this tree, and is now in our possession. We removed this branch on March 19th of 2008 to ensure the health of the tree would not be compromised.  Although not formally dated, this tree was growing well before Monroe built his home.
We recently removed three Ash trees from the grounds. These trees were in decline and became a safety concern. They were planted in the 1930's, on both sides of the long and winding driveway that leads up to the mansion.

Also reclaimed from Ash Lawn, are several Boxwood stumps from the formal Boxwood garden directly in front of the mansion. The annual growth ring count performed by Associate Professor Brian Bond, from Virginia Tech's wood science department, tell us that they were planted between 1900, and 1910.

Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest
Lynchburg,  Virginia
We have signed a licensing agreement with Poplar Forest, and have been give access to a limited amount of Jefferson-era Tulip Poplar from two sources. In 2000, one of the original Jefferson era Poplar trees that grew in front of the house had to be removed. The foundation then had the tree sawn into lumber and are now using this lumber in the reconstuction of the house.
The second source of Jefferson-era Tulip Poplar comes from framing lumber that was used in the rebuilding of the house, after it was severely damaged by fire in 1846. This lumber was gleaned from trees on the property and pit sawn on site.

Please click the links below for information on these current projects:


HWA and David Broadwell Collaborate on New Presidential Pen Series
World-reknown knife and pen maker joins William Jewell in designing unique handmade writing instruments.

America's Historic Horse Chestnut Tree
Planted by George Washington
Fauquier Street, Fredericksburg VA

George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Estate and Gardens
Mount Vernon VA

The Ellwood Catalpa Tree
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's left arm is buried here.
Wilderness Battlefield, Wilderness, VA

Red Oak From Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's Grave Site
Lexington, Va
More info soon.

The 1854 Rappahannock River Crib Dam
Fredericksburg VA


Alexandria Bicentennial White Oak
Alexandria, VA
More info soon.