Custom designed, hand crafted furniture, home decor, & novelties.
A merger of quality, function, and style.
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The Craftsman
My name is Craig Vollmer and I'm the Designer, Craftsman, & Proprietor of The 1812 Shoppe.
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When I was just a toddler, my dad started The 1812 Shoppe in 1970 in Sacketts Harbor, Jefferson County, NY. The Village of Sacketts Harbor sits on the shore of Lake Ontario, and is the site of a historic fort from the War of 1812 - the company namesake. He finished, refinished, repaired, & reupholstered furniture. He dreamed of having a more substantial wood shop and making furniture; a dream that, sadly, went unfulfilled before his untimely death in 2002.
I spent my youth helping my dad in his shop learning to use tools and making things from wood scraps; that lead to taking shop class in high school. My great uncle was a woodworker and artist; I never met him but some of the spectacular pieces he made were handed down to me. My uncle was a talented woodworker, who showed me how beautiful things could be made from wood. My grandfather was a tinkerer always building clever gadgets using wood, metal, and electronics. These four men inspired a lifelong passion for crafting things from wood, a craft that I continually grow in. Maybe it's in my DNA.
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As my love for working wood started, so began a love for trees as a Boy Scout traipsing through the woods in my rural neighborhood and the Adirondack mountains. That lead me to pursue an education and career as a professional forester, where I was responsible for the sustainable management of forests and woodlots across NY and PA working for the paper industry, lumber industry, and as a consultant to woodlot owners. My passion for woodworking is strengthened by the privilege of caring for such a wonderful resource and playing a part in bringing wood products from the forest to peoples homes. The forest has a story to tell; I enjoyed figuring that story out as a forester and I enjoy helping that story live on as a woodworker.
The 1812 Shoppe is now located in Cortland County, NY; it lives on there as a legacy to my dad while building my own. My shop is fully equipped and functional for woodworking. My work as a craftsman is an integral part of the homesteading lifestyle that my wife and I created to provide for ourselves and our family.
Merging quality, function, and style, The 1812 Shoppe produces well designed, solidly built, custom furniture, home decor, and novelties. It continues to be defined by the same important principles demonstrated by my dad– a thorough personal touch, quality craftsmanship, and attentive customer service.
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​I hope I get the opportunity to build something special for you.
To learn what people are saying about The 1812 Shoppe, check out their testimonials here.
If you would like to learn more about the types of wood I use and see what's available for your project, take a look at them here.
Legacy
Besides helping my dad pick up and deliver the furniture he worked on, the only other job in his shop I was qualified for was removing old upholstery. The daunting task of pulling tacks and staples seemed endless at times. After so many times kneeling on a hard floor or bending over continuously for what seemed like hours on end, I decided a stool would make the job more tolerable. So, using a hammer, nails, and a hand saw, I cobbled together this little gem; and, of course, I padded and upholstered the seat for added comfort. None of the cuts were very straight and it wobbles a bit to this day, but it brought the relief I needed. I was 11 years old and this is the first piece of furniture that I ever made.
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After my fathers death, I was pleasantly surprised to find this long forgotten project in his shop and learned that he still used it. I don't know if he kept it out of sentiment or if it was just that handy; maybe a little of both. I brought that stool home and my sons stood on it to brush their teeth. My sons are grown men now but, that stool still sits there, patiently waiting for the next generation to climb or sit on it. I guess legacies come in all sizes.
It certainly shows some wear - it was built in 1980 after all. Despite its crude construction and age, I'd say it has held up pretty well. I want nothing more than the work I do now, to be an even better legacy for you.
