LYCOMING COUNTY, Pa. — Raffaele Colone has been in the woodworking business for 20 years. For the past 16 years, he has owned and operated Woodrich in Lycoming County. His business gives trees located in urban areas of central Pennsylvania a second chance.
"The trees are diseased, dead, blow down, emerald ash borer and all kinds of variables of the tree coming down... and then we give them new life." Said Colone.
Colone and his crew of just three other employees take these dying or downed trees and repurpose them into classic or custom furniture items.
“Furniture, counter tops, mantles, floating shelves, dining tables, end tables, beds, credenzas and end stands. We utilize the wood in every way." He said.
Colone's passion and name of his business is spirited by the history of Williamsport once being known as the Lumber Capital of the world.
“I went to school for forestry here at Penn College and I was also following the historic lumber capital of 1879 and the history of it. It pulls it all together and the name Woodrich I got because we are rich in wood." He said.
Newswatch 16 traveled to the business' showroom located in the old Coca-Cola bottling plant on Church Street in Williamsport. But all the products are made at sawmill located in Cogan Station.
"We are a wood butcher. We start from the log and from the very end we mill it, dry it and then build in craft." Said Colone.
Many of the downtown Williamsport businesses are furnished by Woodrich. The company even sells around the world, meaning trees from our area are global.
"From Qatar to New York City, the Netherlands we just shipped 10 tables to the Netherlands. We ship all over." He added.
The business even offers tree slabs for anyone looking for some DIY fun.
Giving trees a second chance at life
Newswatch 16’s Chris Keating explains how the Williamsport business is fueled by the city’s rich lumber history.