Sal's story: Saving a fire torn business, a home, a family

Photo By Sal Mastropolo, Authentic Antique Lumber

A fire broke out at Authentic Antique Lumber on Route 17-A in Goshen, New York, around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, sending heavy smoke into the air. No one was injured, but the shop was essentially destroyed. It's cause is still not known.

A simple report on a devastating fire.

But that wasn't the story. That wasn't owner Sal Mastropolo's story or the story of Authentic Antique Lumber. It was something more.

In Sal's words
Hello everyone, my name’s Sal, and I’m reaching out because my team and I at Authentic Antique Lumber have been hit with something we never saw coming, a fire tore through our sanding and epoxy building, leaving it destroyed. We lost everything that was in the shop, from tools, our equipment, customer projects, and the entire space where we do much of our work, and one of our vehicles.

We do have insurance, but it barely covers the contents of the shop. I’m already paying $1,500 a month for that limited coverage, and it doesn’t come close to what it’ll take to rebuild. Without help, I don’t yet know how we’ll make it. That’s why I’m making this now.

Our shop is more than a business, it’s a place where a small & close team of passionate craftsmen work side by side every day, creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces from reclaimed lumber. It’s a place where we laugh, solve problems, and work long hours to deliver the best possible pieces for our customers. Now, that space is gone.

I can’t begin to describe how devastating it’s been to see the place we’ve built together destroyed. But way more than that, I’m terrified of what this means for everyone’s future. We’ve got orders to fill, and a team that counts on this shop to provide for their families. Without it, we’re at risk of losing everything we’ve worked for together.

This is why I’m turning to the community. We could really use support right now—whether it’s through donations, sharing our story, or continuing to place orders with us—so we can rebuild and keep the business going. This team means everything to me, and I want to make sure we all have a future here.

Every contribution will help us:

  • Rebuild the Sanding & Epoxy shop structure, which wasn’t covered by insurance
  • Keep our team employed and our business running
  • Help cover loss of business

This shop is our home away from home, and losing it would be like losing a part of ourselves. I know we can rebuild, but I think we really need outside help to do it. Whether you donate, share this, or support us by placing an order, we’re incredibly grateful for anything you can do.

Sal and the Team at Authentic Antique Lumber

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. With your support, I know we can come back stronger and keep doing what we love, together.

If you would like to help Sal, and his team, and their family's, click here.

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About the author
Larry Adams | Editor

Larry Adams is a Chicago-based writer and editor who writes about how things get done. A former wire service and community newspaper reporter, Larry is an award-winning writer with more than three decades of experience. In addition to writing about woodworking, he has covered science, metrology, metalworking, industrial design, quality control, imaging, Swiss and micromanufacturing . He was previously a Tabbie Award winner for his coverage of nano-based coatings technology for the automotive industry. Larry volunteers for the historic preservation group, the Kalo Foundation/Ianelli Studios, and the science-based group, Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST).