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New Haven Wood Shop Working With Green Practices

photo by Chris LaFoy

photo by Chris LaFoy

Tuesday March 10, 2015

By Chris LaFoy

The smokey smell of sawdust is in the air long before entering Stark Mountain Woodworking's New Haven shop. Inside, 15 workers proceed quietly on one of the many projects under way.
    Owners Louis Dupont and Skimmer Hellier opened Stark Mountain in 1993. The shop produces handmade custom woodwork including cabinets, tables, and doors.
    The shop is housed in a 20,000 square foot building on South St. Although the exterior of the building could be mistaken as a barn, the interior displays many of their finished products. The large open spaces are filled with tools, meticulously organized and hanging from the walls. The shop is clean, leaving just enough sawdust to believe its in use. The company break room is completely stocked with cabinets and tables made in the same building.
    “We use it as a way to promote our work,” said Dupont, adding that they also keep souvenirs from important projects, such as a piece of the staircase they designed for the Middlebury College Library.  
    Some of Stark Mountain's more public work is in the interior of American Flatbread in Middlebury.
The renovation included locally sourced wood for bar tops, custom light fixtures, and a room divider made from reclaimed barn wood. This project was designed, manufactured and installed all by Stark
Mountain.
    The environment is one of Stark Mountain's major concerns. One technique used in the shop to cut down on fuel oil usage is a large wood burning boiler located behind the shop. The shop burns the ever abundant scrap wood discarded during projects. The boiler provides an estimated 75% of the shops heating needs.
    Stark Mountain's environmental efforts also benefit their productivity. In 2006, Hellier and Dupont offered $500 to any employee that wanted to purchase a bike in order to ride to work. If that employee rode more than 650 miles in the next year during their work commute, Stark Mountain would award another $500 to the rider. This unique health plan gained attention when Stark Mountain was awarded with the Vermont Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Gold Award.
    “I think they are better employees because they are healthy,” added Dupont.
    Dupont mentioned a recent internship program with Mount Abraham Union High School. With the help of the professionals at Stark Mountain, a student came into the shop and build tables needed for Starboard Elementary School. Dupont noted that he hoped to be able to help the community in the future in this way, providing high quality products at reasonable prices.
    Stark Mountain's 22 year tenure in Vermont has produced many pieces of work being used in schools, businesses, even the State House. Visit them at www.StarkMountain.com.

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