About Us
written by: Abner
Over 35 years ago I watched my grandpa and my dad “do wood” in their shop…now my grandson watches his dad and his grandpa “do wood” in our shop. As we say here in the south, “my, how time do fly”!
My grandpa Riehl made cedar chests using gasoline engines and jackshafts to operate his few power tools. As an Amishman in Lancaster County, PA, he had no electricity in his shop so most things were done by hand.
Now we push buttons, use computers, cell phones, cameras without film, and sell things over the Internet! Some things however, do remain the same; the best materials, quality workmanship, and commitment to our customers. You will be satisfied… guaranteed.
We start with logs and cut our own lumber right here. Poor quality logs never make it to the sawmill; they are ground into landscape mulch. Also going into the mulch pile is the bark and any defective lumber that shows up as it is being processed. Sawdust and shavings are sold for animal bedding, so very little is wasted. This allows us to offer superior quality at “everyday” prices. Wonderful products, great prices and even better service make a “Riehl” difference.
We moved from Pennsylvania (a nice place to be from) in 1992, bought a farm, and of course, built a wood shop. We were looking for a warmer climate, a more relaxed pace of life, and a first generation Mennonite community. We found all three in historic Abbeville County, South Carolina.
Our shop is 4 miles “due west” of Due West, SC, a small college town midway between Greenville, SC and Augusta, GA. We are in pine and cedar country and have both pine and cedar trees growing on our farm. If you were to fly over Abbeville County, you would see trees and more trees…with seemingly very few houses. We love the quiet, rural setting, and it provides us with our raw materials at low cost. Wood – the renewable resource!
In 2008, we expanded our partnership. In addition to Abner and his sons Arlan and Ellis, we now include Dale Miller and John Miller. Dale Miller moved here from Pennsylvania, and brings a number of years of experience in residential construction. His family includes his wife and four children. John Miller moved into the area from Ohio and has experience in roofing and residential construction since he was 14 years old. His family includes his wife and a son.
