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The Boatworks and Atlantic Timberframes |
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Our timber frame history was molded by the same original founders of Atlantic Boatworks. In the late 1970's, Atlantic Boatworks was established by Bob and Tony Donahue of Pittsburgh . It was the 70's grass roots era of “Move to the Country and Build Us a Home” so they moved from their city location in Pittsburgh to a much more rural setting 60 miles north in Atlantic , PA. The Donahues were boat builders by trade at that time, with two custom-built sailboats in their possession. Now that they were in the country, they set out to build that home. |
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While doing research they discovered the lost, but reviving craft of Timber Framing. Embracing a spirit of craftsmanship, they decided to build a Timber Frame home in the middle of their 40 acre farm. With a new Timber Frame standing, the Donahues were snug as bugs in a rug, until the tornado of the early 1980's came along. With Bob and Tony inside the Timber Frame, and their two sailboats beside the shop, the tornado set down right on top of them. The four main rafters of the Timber Frame split down the center, taking the top half of the rafters with the panel roof and leaving the bottom half attached to the posts. The two sail boats were never seen again. Fortunately, the Donahue's were. They survived while sitting in the middle of it all. Rebuilding their home, the crew drove pins out of the rafter-to-post connections and installed new rafters and a roof. It was not long before Bob and Tony were Home Sweet Home again. |
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That event made the Pittsburgh paper and was the catalyst for a period of booming growth within Atlantic Boatworks. Growing to become one of the founding companies of the Timber Frame Guild, the company was featured in Fine Homes Living as a Timber Frame company with some of the biggest tools in the industry. |
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Yes, Bob had some big tools for the times, one being a timber joiner built for the Bessimer Railroad in the late 1800's to straighten big timbers used in the construction of railroad cars. This tool remains at the heartbeat of Atlantic Timberframes even today, a testament to Pennsylvania 's machinist heritage. The joiner allows us to take the bow out of milled timbers, just as you would for kitchen cabinets. This is the only big tool used by the crew. The remainder of the work is all hand crafted. |
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Atlantic Timberframes uses the latest computer technologies to generate designs and shop drawings, but we prefer hand cutting our frames over using computerized numerical control (CNC) machines. We feel the hand selection of each timber, and the thought that goes into choosing the best fit for each piece, makes all the difference. We believe this hands-on service offered by Atlantic Timberframes is what our clients value most. |
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Atlantic Boatworks went through big transition in the late 1980's. Due to Bob's failing health, the company went through a period of dormacy. The Atlantic torch was relit and passed onto Ron Gabany in 1992 and is now burning brightly with Ron and his son, Eric, in the Atlantic Timberframes shop of Mercer, PA. The company is now represented in Ohio by Brian Sabo, in Michigan by Bill Siering, and in Alaska by Joe Miller and Dwayne Jensen. |
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MOST HOUSES CAN BE DESCRIBED--- TIMBER FRAME HOMES MUST BE EXPERIENCED !!! |
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PROUD MEMBER OF: |
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Atlantic Timberframes
571 N. Stone Base Rd.
Mercer, PA 16137 |
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