I’ve driven through this part of Memphis many times. I painted a mural for Hunter Fan just down the street, and I must have passed the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) sign dozens of times without really seeing it. Now the building feels significant.
I visited NHLA headquarters on August 31 to connect with specialists in the lumber industry. My maternal grandfather worked for the E.L. Bruce Company, and I am researching that history as I think about the future of my grandparents’ former home at 1328 Bruce Street in Orange Mound, Memphis. My dream is to transform the house into a studio space. That vision also includes building outdoor sculptures for the property, and I need to understand wood on a much deeper level to make that happen.
1328 Bruce St., Orange Mound, Memphis, TN
My connection to NHLA started at the new Memphis Art Museum building back in May. I was invited to tour the museum, where Melissa Whitby pointed out some of the intentional flooring choices made for the museum. I mentioned my family lumber project, and Melissa told me she had a contact I should meet. I finally emailed her in late August, thankful that she remembered our conversation, and she introduced me to Dallin Brooks.
When you walk into the headquarters, you smell the wood immediately. Wood slabs cover the walls and other surfaces. Some are installed at 45-degree angles to form a chevron pattern, one of my favorites. Each office highlights a different species of wood. I remember butternut, American elm, black willow, sweet gum, Lauan, and several others.
Dallin gave me a full tour of the building, grounds, classrooms, and equipment. I saw student work, including turned wooden bowls, and a massive antique two-man crosscut saw that was hard to miss. There were shelves full of books on forests, logging, and the lumber industry. Heaven for a wood enthusiast like me.
Library and meeting room at NHLA headquarters, with the antique crosscut saw mounted on paneled wall.
Before I left, he gave me a field guide to trees, something I’ve wanted for years. It is easily one of the best things I’ve received all year. I also met Brennah Hutchison, who gave me a copy of the latest issue of Hardwood & Design. I appreciated the warm welcome and the swag.
Finally, my own Pocket Guide to Trees.
I didn’t get to ask all my questions about the E.L. Bruce Company this time. I still want to learn which species perform best outdoors and how different woods weather over time. I also need to figure out what to prioritize when building outdoor sculptures. Dallin did tell me that hickory is stronger than oak, which I’m filing away for later.
For years, I have relied on salvaged lumber because it was available and visually interesting. Now I want to understand more about where the material comes from and how different species behave. I also want to explore how Memphis, and perhaps Orange Mound specifically, fit into the broader hardwood industry.
This visit was the perfect start to that education. I plan to go back. Probably more than once.