Custom Furniture Maker Opening School
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Custom Furniture Maker Opening SchoolLYNCHBURG, VA — Thomas A. Johnson, a furniture maker, recently launched a fundraising drive to raise money to fulfill his vision of building a woodworking school: the Thomas A. Johnson School of American Woodworking, which would train under-employed people the art of fine woodworking and how to become entrepreneurs, as well as to preserve the art of American woodworking.

Johnson, who emigrated from Ghana and was trained in furniture making in Rimini, Italy, says woodworking, an ancient craft, has been an integral part of the American heritage and that legacy is now in jeopardy with the rise in furniture imports combined with the lack of skilled woodworkers in the country.

“When we were born, a woodworker welcomed us into the world by way of a cradle. When we die, a woodworker sees us off by way of a coffin. In between life and death, a woodworker builds our homes and furniture. The buildings we frequent and work out of, all are built by woodworkers — the carpenter, joiner and cabinetmaker. Therefore, it is imperative that we restore the lost art of woodworking in America,” he says.

Custom Furniture Maker Opening SchoolApproximately three years ago, Johnson completed the first phase of his goal by purchasing a 35-acre site, formerly a lumberyard, with plans to use the land and the 135,000-square-foot facility to build his school. The aptly named Mayflower Landing, which harkens back to the early days of American settlers, will be the future home of a wood products manufacturing village featuring not only the woodworking school and Johnson’s furniture company, but a welcome center/museum, workshop center/exhibit hall, lumber harvesting area and much more.

Now in the second phase of his project, Johnson hopes to raise $1 million or more. Funds for the development are being collected online until June 10 through USA Projects, a non-profit organization launched by United States Artists that allows accomplished artists to fund projects by posting them on its site. All donations are tax deductible. For more information and to donate, visit mayflowerlanding.org.

Thomas A. Johnson Furniture Co., established in 1996, specializes in hand-made custom interior wood furnishings, including cabinetry, furniture, flooring and one-of-a-kind items for interior designers and architects. His company recycles old wood, replanes it, and then rebuilds it into new fine furniture.

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