By Laura Leavitt
Drew and Jake Wurzelbacher are no strangers to accomplishing hard tasks side by side; they’ve been craftsmen for most of their lives.
“We started working together when we were 8 years old,” says Drew, co-owner of First Ward Wood Company. “We began working with our father on the weekends, and we’ve always gotten along well together.”
The Wurzelbacher brothers drew on their father’s expertise in the construction industry as well as his hobby woodworking when they realized that they were ready to be their own bosses. The started their custom furniture business and, one and a half years ago, went full-time as self-employed woodworkers.
“It was a big jump, but it is neat to see that we’ve come a long way,” says Jake. “At first, we thought, ‘If we build a kitchen, then we’ll have really made it,’ and now, that’s just a normal thing for us.”
His brother Drew saw that they both had the right temperament to be self-employed.
“We’re naturally ambitious, and we wanted something without a cap on our potential,” says Drew. “We just want to do our own thing.”
They describe their style, whether they are making cabinets or tables or vanities, as minimal, classic, and timeless.
“We aim for high-quality rather than trendy items; we use natural finishes rather than stains, since we can use walnut if you want a dark finish,” says Jake. “We like working in cherry, walnut, and white oak.”
Their shop, located at 216 Main Street B, dates back to the 1850s, featuring brick walls and beautiful wooden floors that really add to the atmosphere of craftsmanship and handiwork that the brothers aim to cultivate.
“The building used to house a carriage-making business, then it either became a Model A or Model T manufacturing spot,” explains Drew. “We are carrying on a tradition here.”
Each project starts with a request, either from a home builder or an individual; with this outreach, the individual shares what they hope for the project, some idea of the budget, and the kinds of wood they’d want to use. Modern technology also helps people convey their vision to the brothers.
“Pinterest pictures are both our best friend and our worst enemy,” says Drew, laughing.
Once the customer and the brothers understand the design, they add the needed lumber to their inventory. They source much of their lumber from a sawmill in Brookville, Indiana, keeping the entire custom furniture process as local as possible.
Drew’s experience in the industry has helped him become the main design and layout expert, while Jake works on communications and responding to inquiries. They both take on different aspects of the woodworking process itself.
As they build more pieces, they fill out their website and Instagram to showcase what they do best, and what they enjoy. They don’t intend to become a huge commercial operation, however.
“We want to stay a two-man operation,” says Drew. “We may eventually specialize in a specific kind of work that we especially enjoy, but for now, we are still building the brand.”
For now, they are open for local commissions through their website, offering a completely different experience from buying big-box furniture or cabinetry.
“We’re doing something here that not everyone is doing,” says Jake. “In many ways, it’s a lost art.”
For more information about First Ward Wood Company, visit their website http://www.firstwardwoodco.com/.