Grand Champion 
Bob Shortridge Jr.
Powhatan, Virginia
Also First Place winner in this category for the Midwest Region
Historical Place Graced with Intricate Octagon Timber Framed Pavilion
Dreaming Creek Timber Frame Homes has used their Wood-Mizer LT40 Hydraulic with a diesel engine for 8 years. It was a replacement for the one they bought in 1989. The company, based on 70 acres in central Virginia, builds one-of-a-kind masterpieces for their clients. If some of this background information sounds familiar, that is because the company received a special recognition for their entries into the 2003 Personal Best contest. The company submitted four magnificent timber frame homes which showcased their standard of excellence.
 The gazebo-style outbuilding, submitted by Bob Shortridge, Jr., is also a Dreaming Creek exclusive and exemplifies their timber framing talents. The finished project is octagonal and measures 28' x 28' x 28' x 28'. The 622 square feet will be used as an events pavilion by Walkerton Tavern, which is on the National Register of Historical Places and hosts events and weddings.
Dreaming Creek's design team came up with the unique blueprint and a crew of sawyers cut 100% of the joinery with their Wood-Mizer sawmill at the company's "beamery." A total of 7,000 board feet was sawn. As with all their projects, a crew pre-assembled certain frame components and numbered each piece and then disassembled it in order to reconstruct it on-site. When it was time to raise the structure, a team of five timber framers were on-site. In total, it took one month to saw and erect this outdoor venue.
In keeping with timber framing techniques, traditional mortise and tenon joinery was used to connect the timbers. Bob estimated that using a Wood-Mizer sawmill resulted in a $7,000 savings.
With a bank of beautiful trees as a backdrop, the white oak structure has a commanding presence. Bob Shortridge, Jr. said, "The whole company had a feeling of satisfaction because it had taken so many different individuals to pull it together." 
Dreaming Creek was founded by Bob Shortridge in 1981. For awhile he was a oneman operation, but now is backed by a company of 50 people, including his son. They work together like family and many have known each other for 20 years.
According to Mr. hortridge their sawmill is a valuable tool to the Dreaming Creek business. The longest timber produced measured 12-inches by 18-inches by 52-feet. "The Wood-Mizer was a dead ringer for us. It was small enough to afford and productive enough to meet our needs." |
