Whittling away at history inspires unique furniture

Taris Savell
News Journal correspondent

When you`re the seventh generation of a cabinet/furniture making family, what profession do you choose?

While the obvious answer might be the family business, Bradley Geoghagan did not plan on following in his father`s footsteps.

Bradley Geoghagan with vineyard chair made from mohagony in his shop.

Michael Spooneybarger
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com

"I took business courses in college and was working in Minneapolis," Geoghagan said. But then: "After my son was born, I decided to return to Pensacola and build a family business for him."

The shop where Geoghagan is creating his furniture masterpieces originally was his father`s cabinet shop in Ensley.

"Ten years ago, Dad closed his Robert`s Woodworking, so when I came back I refurbished it, and that`s how it started," said the 27-year-old of his Geoghagan Woodwork.

The items he makes have included farm tables - one of which was made from heart pine recovered from the Yellow River - and two art deco chairs of red oak.

Sandy Ross had been searching for someone to make the chairs for her for four months. "I had quotes from Vermont to Sweden, but they were never quite what I wanted. When I found Bradley, we talked and designed exactly what I was looking for.

"I wanted chairs that were artistic but functional at a good price. The most important thing was that it was a quality product. I was amazed to find him right here."

"I use no metals like screws in what I make," Geoghagan said, "just the old, traditional way of joinery - dovetail joints. The furniture pieces I make are going to last several lifetimes."

The wood he particularly enjoys using comes from the Pensacola Bay Area, such as cherry, sometimes walnut, sycamore and even cedar.

Bob Ross Tree Service provides Geoghagan with a lot of wood, and according to Ross (no relation to Sandy Ross), cedar has been around this area forever.

"One of Bradley`s first jobs was making my three daughters three cedar chests. That has evolved into a good business for Brad. His cedar chests are works of art. He`s definitely an artist."

Part of the pleasure that Geoghagan gets from making unique items is the history behind the wood and he does a lot of research into the wood he`s using.

"The heart pine I used for the farm table was believed to have been about 120 years old. The lumberjack who topped it and harvested it down the river to the mill was paid a nickel. Many of the logs sank, and this was one of them. I always tell my customers about the history of the wood that`s used in the item I made for them."