Wendell August Forge (for OAC)

  • By Denice Rovira Hazlett
  • August 17, 2012
  • 491
                        
Wendell August Forge has been known for their hand-made craftsmanship and commitment to quality since Wendell August himself began creating unique and enduring metalwork in the small town of Brockway, Pennsylvania back in 1923. In fact, when the family-owned company was looking to expand with a new showroom, museum area and workshop space, they settled on Berlin, Ohio, home to the largest Amish and Mennonite settlement in the world, a community that mirrored the company's dedication to solid workmanship and time-honored heritage. And in 1994, they constructed a 13,000 square-foot timber-frame building (the second largest in Ohio), boasting a 5,000 square-foot showroom that has to be seen in all its fabulous glory to be believed. "We've done a lot to make a trip to Wendell August Forge an unforgettable experience," says Melissa Kollar, General Manager of the Ohio location. "The first thing guests will notice is the building itself, with its 40-foot ceilings and huge beams overhead. Just looking up, you're in awe of its unique structure." The site also boasts the world's largest Amish buggy, custom-made for the forge by a local buggy-maker. There's also a model train chugging along a 300-foot track and an old-fashioned Nickelodeon cranking out tunes. Guest are also invited to hand-hammer their own souvenir to help them experience Wendell August's process. While there are engravers on-site at the Berlin location, the company's production takes place at their Grove City, Pennsylvania location, where craftsmen hand-select, cut, and hand-hammer American-made metals while two master engravers, Dave Bruck and Len Youngo use their thirty years' experience to undertake the most artistic part of the process, die-cutting the picture frames, wedding and anniversary plates, serving pieces and more. Companies and organizations turn to Wendell August for one-of-a-kind and custom gifts; their national customers have included the New York Yankees, the Kentucky Derby, Coca Cola and MetLife, while local favorites like Donna's Premiere Lodging of Berlin, Simple Pleasures Bed and Breakfast of Wilmot, and The Barn Inn and Hilltop Manor Bed and Breakfast, both of Millersburg, feature Wendell August Forge room keys and serving pieces. But while Wendell August Forge treasures their traditional giftware lines, they're always eager to try new things. Enter Emily Hendrie's story. In 2008, Hendrie, a jewelry major from Temple University's Tyler School of Art, was recruited as Wendell August's first female craftsperson. While on break from creating ornaments, trays and plates, Hendrie upcycled a serving tray that had been discarded due to imperfection, creating a bracelet, rings and necklace. When her production manager saw her work, she was asked to make more. "I made a ton of jewelry, and it sold really well," says the 27-year-old Hendrie, who then became the Creative Director and Lead Designer for the jewelry division the company established. Along with designer Erica Saellam, and craftsperson Amy Flis, Hendrie has now branched out to create both new and upcycled jewelry using all metal components of bronze, brass, copper, aluminum, and coming this fall, Elements, Hendrie's first sterling silver line. "The jewelry is very unique, handmade by the three of us in the jewelry department," Hendrie says. "Since the styles range from traditional to contemporary, the pieces are for any demographic." In addition to collections like Origami, Luna, Hammered and Bliss, Hendrie says shops will soon see a fun new line called Encore which upcycles pieces from previous projects into gorgeous high-end necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings, all featuring lots of color and variety. "You'll see a big, one-of-a-kind piece with a lot of black Swarovski crystals, for example, made from last year's Noir collection. The person who buys it will know they're the only one in the world with that necklace or bracelet." Melissa Kollar says Hendrie's jewelry is just one way product developers have incorporated more modern, contemporary items into their collection. Their giftware has received a few modern twists, and a new line of all-metal purses will be soon hitting the shelves. To get a peek at Wendell August Forge's new items, visit wendellaugust.com, or, better yet, for the full Wendell August experience, take a trip to their Ohio Amish Country retail store at 7007 County Road 672 in Berlin. For more information, call 1-866-354-5192 or email info@wendell.com. Retail store hours: January through March: Monday -Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday - Closed April through December: Monday -Saturday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday - Closed Call for Holiday Hours Onsite engraving available at the following times: Tues: 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wed: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Thur: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Fri: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Sat: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.


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