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Where It Began
Built on wood that was
already built
Boston Lumber started the way many great companies do — with a problem that needed solving. A demolition contractor in Medford had thousands of board feet of old-growth heart pine pulled from a century-old textile warehouse slated for redevelopment. The wood was too beautiful to landfill — dense, tight-grained timbers that had been standing since the 1890s — but there was no easy way to get it to the builders, designers, and craftspeople who would value it. We stepped in to bridge that gap, and in doing so, discovered the enormous hidden market for salvaged lumber in New England.
What started as a side project — a single flatbed truck and a rented storage lot on the outskirts of Medford — quickly revealed the massive demand for high-quality reclaimed lumber. Within the first year, we had outgrown our storage twice and were fielding calls from contractors across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. Architects were asking for species we had never heard of. Furniture makers were driving hours just to hand-pick boards from our yard. The demand was not just real — it was overwhelming, and it told us something important: the construction industry was sitting on a mountain of wasted material, and hardly anyone was doing anything about it.
That realization became the foundation of everything we have built since. We were not just selling old wood — we were building a supply chain that did not exist before. We were creating a bridge between the demolition industry, which generates millions of board feet of reusable lumber every year, and the building industry, which desperately wants character, quality, and sustainability but struggles to source it reliably. Today, our 37 Linden St yard in Medford, MA 02155 stands as proof that this bridge works — and that the wood itself has always been worth saving.
Founding Principle
“Every board we save from a landfill is a tree that stays standing. That math never stops being powerful.”
— Boston Lumber founding team
The Mission That Drives Us
Our mission is straightforward: intercept reusable lumber before it reaches a landfill, process it to the highest standards, and deliver it to people who will give it a second life. Every operational decision — from which salvage sites we bid on, to which equipment we invest in, to how we train our team — flows from this mission. We measure our success not just in revenue, but in board feet diverted, trees preserved, and carbon kept out of the atmosphere.
Key Milestones
Our Journey So Far
From a bootstrap salvage operation to a vertically integrated reclaimed lumber company — every milestone reflects our commitment to sustainability and quality.
The First Truckload
Salvaged 4,000 board feet of heart pine from a condemned warehouse in Medford. Sold out in ten days through word of mouth alone. Realized the demand for reclaimed lumber far exceeded what anyone was supplying. Rented a 2,000-square-foot storage lot and started sourcing from two additional demolition sites.
First Repeat Customers
A local furniture maker and a residential contractor became our first repeat buyers, ordering monthly. Their feedback shaped our early grading standards and taught us that consistency — not just availability — was what the market needed most.
First Processing Yard
Secured a permanent processing yard at 37 Linden St, Medford, MA 02155. Invested in industrial de-nailers, a commercial metal detector, and our first industrial planer. Processing capacity jumped to 15,000 board feet per month. Hired our first two full-time employees.
Species Inventory Expansion
Expanded our species inventory beyond heart pine to include reclaimed white oak, American chestnut, Douglas fir, cypress, and eastern hemlock. Began formal species identification training for all team members, developing the expertise that would become one of our core competitive advantages.
Fleet Expansion
Purchased three flatbed trucks and a box truck to stop relying on third-party haulers. Controlling logistics meant faster turnaround, less damage in transit, and the ability to serve customers across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
First Architect Partnership
Partnered with a Boston architecture firm on a LEED-certified office renovation that used 100% reclaimed flooring and wall cladding. The project won a regional design award and introduced us to the commercial and institutional market.
Kiln Operation Online
Commissioned an on-site kiln for heat-treating reclaimed lumber. This let us guarantee pest-free, dimensionally stable wood for interior applications and meet stricter building codes without outsourcing. Kiln capacity: 5,000 board feet per cycle with programmable temperature and humidity controls.
Custom Milling Services Launch
Installed a profile moulder and resaw to offer tongue-and-groove, shiplap, V-groove, and custom profiles. This transformed us from a raw material supplier into a full-service reclaimed lumber provider capable of delivering ready-to-install products.
50,000 BF Monthly Capacity
Upgraded equipment and expanded the yard to handle over 50,000 board feet per month. Added a resaw for custom dimensioning, enabling us to fill bespoke orders for designers and furniture makers. Team grew to eight full-time employees across operations, sales, and logistics.
FSC Recycled Certification
Achieved FSC Recycled chain-of-custody certification, allowing architects and builders to specify our products on projects requiring FSC-certified materials. This opened doors to government, institutional, and large commercial projects with strict sourcing requirements.
Sustainability Benchmarking
Began formally tracking environmental metrics: landfill diversion rates, carbon offset estimates, trees preserved, and embodied energy savings. Published our first annual sustainability report. Established partnerships with Habitat for Humanity ReStore and the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association.
Historic Restoration Division
Created a dedicated historic restoration program to serve preservation architects and contractors working on landmarked buildings. Developed expertise in sourcing period-accurate species and dimensions — true 2x4s, wide-plank old-growth boards, and hand-hewn timbers that cannot be replicated with new lumber.
100th Salvage Site Milestone
Completed salvage operations at our 100th source site. By this point, our sourcing network included demolition contractors, property developers, municipal governments, renovation companies, and walk-in sellers across six New England states.
Regional Leader in Reclaimed Lumber
Boston Lumber now processes over 60,000 board feet per month, sources from 130+ demolition sites annually, and serves contractors, designers, and builders across multiple states. Our 94% landfill diversion rate sets the standard for the industry. We carry 20+ species in inventory, offer full custom milling, and provide LEED documentation support for green building projects.
Meet the Team
The People Behind the Wood
Our team combines decades of lumber industry experience with a shared passion for sustainability and craftsmanship. Every person on this list plays a critical role in turning salvaged timber into premium reclaimed lumber.
Marcus DeWitt
Operations Manager
Marcus oversees all yard operations, from incoming salvage loads to outbound deliveries. With 14 years in the lumber industry — including stints at two commercial sawmills and a timber frame company — he brings deep knowledge of wood processing, equipment maintenance, and production scheduling. Marcus implemented our current quality control checkpoints and designed the workflow that allows us to process 60,000+ board feet per month without sacrificing grading accuracy.
Elena Vasquez
Lead Lumber Grader
Elena is the final authority on every board that leaves our yard. She trained under NHLA-certified graders for eight years before joining Boston Lumber and has personally evaluated over 500,000 board feet of reclaimed material. Her species identification skills are exceptional — she can distinguish heart pine from longleaf pine by grain pattern alone and has developed our proprietary grading scale for reclaimed lumber that accounts for both structural integrity and aesthetic character.
Tom Halloran
Salvage & Sourcing Director
Tom manages our sourcing network and leads on-site evaluations at demolition and deconstruction projects. A former demolition contractor himself, Tom understands both sides of the equation — what makes a salvage project logistically viable and what makes the recovered material commercially valuable. He evaluates over 200 potential source sites per year and maintains relationships with demolition companies, developers, and municipal agencies across New England.
Anya Chen
Sustainability & Compliance Coordinator
Anya manages our environmental reporting, certification maintenance, and regulatory compliance. She holds a degree in environmental science from UMass Amherst and previously worked in construction waste consulting. She developed our carbon accounting methodology, manages our FSC chain-of-custody documentation, produces our annual sustainability report, and coordinates LEED documentation for customers pursuing green building certifications.
James Kowalski
Customer Relations & Sales Lead
James is the primary point of contact for architects, contractors, designers, and homeowners. With a background in architectural millwork sales, he understands both the technical requirements and the aesthetic vision behind every project. James manages all inbound quote requests and ensures responses go out within one business day. He is also responsible for developing our industry partnerships and representing Boston Lumber at trade shows and design expos.
Our Facility
15,000+ Square Feet of
Reclaimed Lumber Operations
Our facility at 37 Linden St, Medford, MA 02155 is purpose-built for processing reclaimed lumber. The yard encompasses over 15,000 square feet of combined indoor and outdoor space, organized into distinct zones for receiving, processing, kiln drying, inventory storage, and shipping.
The receiving area handles inbound salvage loads with a dedicated sorting space where material is evaluated, tagged, and routed to the appropriate processing station. The processing building houses our de-nailing stations, metal detector conveyor, 24-inch industrial planer, horizontal resaw, and profile moulder — all connected by an industrial dust collection system that keeps particulate levels well below EPA thresholds.
Our on-site kiln accommodates 5,000+ board feet per cycle and is fully programmable for temperature and humidity, allowing us to dry different species to their optimal moisture content. The inventory yard features organized storage racks sorted by species, dimension, and grade, with covered storage for finished products awaiting shipment. A customer pickup area with loading assistance makes yard visits efficient and straightforward.
Receiving & Sorting
3,000 sq ftInbound material evaluation, species identification, initial sorting, and hazardous material screening.
Processing Building
4,500 sq ftDe-nailing stations, metal detection, planing, resawing, custom milling, and dust collection systems.
Kiln Facility
1,200 sq ftProgrammable kiln with 5,000+ BF capacity. Heat treatment to ISPM-15 standards. Moisture monitoring instrumentation.
Inventory Yard
5,000 sq ftOrganized storage racks by species, dimension, and grade. Covered storage for finished products. Customer browsing area.
Office & Shipping
1,500 sq ftAdministrative offices, customer service area, order staging, banding and wrapping station, and fleet parking.
Giving Back
Community Involvement
We believe a lumber company should be a good neighbor. Our community programs extend our sustainability mission beyond the yard and into the neighborhoods we serve.
Habitat for Humanity Donations
We donate non-commercial-grade reclaimed lumber to local Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations every month. This keeps usable material in circulation and supports affordable housing construction in greater Boston.
Annual Tree Planting
Each spring, our team sponsors and participates in tree planting events in Medford and surrounding communities. While our core mission is reusing existing wood, we also invest in the forests of the future through urban canopy restoration.
Vocational Training Partnerships
We partner with local vocational schools and community colleges to provide hands-on training in lumber grading, mill operation, and wood species identification. Students gain real-world experience while learning about the growing field of reclaimed materials.
Historic Preservation Support
We provide below-cost reclaimed lumber to community-led historic preservation projects, including church restorations, historic home repairs, and public building rehabilitation. Preserving the architectural heritage of New England is deeply personal to our team.
Local Artisan Program
Our artisan program offers discounted reclaimed lumber to local woodworkers, furniture makers, and artists. By making quality reclaimed material accessible to small-scale craftspeople, we help build a local ecosystem of sustainable making.
Environmental Education
We host school groups, scout troops, and community organizations at our yard for tours that explain the environmental impact of lumber waste, the process of reclaiming wood, and why the circular economy matters for construction materials.
Industry Recognition
Awards & Recognition
We do not chase awards — we chase impact. But we are grateful when industry organizations and community groups recognize the work our team does every day.
CDRA Excellence in Diversion Award
Recognized by the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association for achieving and maintaining a 94% landfill diversion rate — one of the highest in the reclaimed lumber category nationwide.
Regional Green Business Certification
Certified as a Green Business by the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for our commitment to waste reduction, energy efficiency, and sustainable operations.
Historic Preservation Partner Citation
Received a citation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for contributions to the salvage and preservation of historically significant timber from New England heritage structures.
USGBC LEED Partner Recognition
Recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council as a reliable LEED documentation partner, having contributed to over 40 LEED-certified projects with properly documented reclaimed materials.
Medford Community Impact Award
Honored by the City of Medford for community contributions including Habitat for Humanity donations, vocational training partnerships, and annual tree planting sponsorships.
New England Woodworking Association Recognition
Recognized for outstanding contributions to the regional woodworking community through our artisan program, species education workshops, and consistent supply of high-quality reclaimed hardwoods.
Why This Matters
The Problem We're Solving
of all landfill waste
Construction and demolition debris makes up roughly a quarter of all waste entering U.S. landfills each year. Much of it is perfectly usable lumber that simply lacks a pathway back into the building supply chain.
board feet wasted annually
An estimated 3.5 billion board feet of reusable lumber is landfilled every year in the United States alone. That is an enormous amount of embodied energy, carbon storage, and natural resources thrown away.
acres of forest cut per year (U.S.)
Demand for new construction lumber drives millions of acres of timber harvesting annually. Every board of reclaimed lumber we put back into circulation is a small but meaningful reduction in that demand.
Want to Be Part of
This Story?
Whether you are a builder looking for premium reclaimed lumber, a demolition contractor with material to sell, or simply someone who cares about keeping usable wood out of landfills — we would love to hear from you.
37 Linden St, Medford, MA 02155