In the 1970’s, a master carpenter searching for wood to build his dream home led him to getting longleaf pine logs from a fisherman friend who found them in the Suwanee River. That carpenter was George Goodwin, and the Goodwin Heart Pine Company was born. Goodwin became fascinated with the unique grains and appearance of these rare logs and realized it could be a perfect building material for homeowners and builders.
Today, Goodwin Company is one of the most trusted resources for wood, and they boast one of the strongest building materials because of the number of growth rings in their wood—the more growth rings, the stronger the wood. They offer their heart pine and cypress wood options for flooring and building. They also offer reclaimed antique wood and precision-engineered wood flooring made from their heart pine wood.
Wood recovered from rivers is coveted among home builders and buyers. Goodwin offers both River-Recovered® heart pine and heart cypress wood. The heart pine wood in Goodwin’s collection is from trees that are 200-500 years old. The heart cypress is commonly between 1,000-1,500 years old. Goodwin also restores antique wood that may have been destroyed during storms or left at properties.
“Goodwin Company recognizes the lasting value of using antique reclaimed wood for flooring, paneling, and ceiling installations,” said Carol Goodwin, president of Goodwin Company. “We provide distinctive installation materials for a variety of commercial and residential applications, such as a century-old residence that is being transformed into a sleek, modern mansion. Goodwin Company remains focused on the future by embracing the past.”
All Goodwin wood products are made in the USA, and it is the oldest family-owned and operated reclaimed wood company.
Although Goodwin embraces its family-owned, community-based business, their list of notable clients spans across the globe. Their materials have been used in residences owned by Ted Turner, Bob Vila, Paul McCartney and Frank Lloyd Wright and buildings such as the Ford Plantation in Savannah, the Naples Botanical Garden and the Portland Observatory in Maine.
“Goodwin Company has earned the reputation as one of the most highly respected manufacturers of antique heart pine and heart cypress in the world,” Goodwin said. “Installed in luxury homes and fine businesses and specified in historical renovations throughout the country, Goodwin’s River-Recovered® wood has also been featured in publications and on many television shows.”
The Goodwin products attract homeowners and builders from all styles of home design. From contemporary to farm chic, the distinctiveness of reclaimed and restored antique wood is that it can fit into any project.
“Clients who choose Goodwin Company for flooring, paneling, feature walls, and exterior cladding recognize the addition of these materials to their home or business is an enduring investment. Client needs and styles can be quite fluid, but the beauty of working with antique woods rests in the ability to align modern tastes with historically accurate materials,” Goodwin said. “Goodwin Company provides a high-quality product that is accessible to many, and their antique materials represent an enduring history and heritage, with each client’s order treated with the utmost consideration and particular to their needs.
Goodwin is a proud steward of the environment and use green standards in their reclaiming and manufacturing processes. Sustainability is a vital part of their River-Recovered® wood, and they are proud to reclaim antique wood from across the country that would otherwise be destroyed. They value operating within Alachua County where sustainability and materials reuse are a core focus, Goodwin said.
“Our strong relationship with the City of Gainesville and Alachua County is bolstered by a shared focus on conservation. Goodwin Company is pleased to have provided antique wood products for local public projects such as the 1850’s-era Depot and the center of downtown expansion,” Goodwin said. “Additionally, the University of Florida has been supportive of Goodwin Company through supplying industrial engineering studies as well as purchasing wood for their sustainable design projects.”
By Tracy Wright
