Posted by: Susan Monahan in History, Downtown on
Sep 26, 2011
I can't walk by the elegant mauve and gray Baumeister Building without rapping one of its columns with my knuckles. Each rap is answered by a gratifying metallic clunk because this building is a "Mesker" and that means it's faced by a "galvanized storefront system." All its lovely ornamentation that looks carved and handmade is actually pressed sheet metal, a combination of galvanized steel and cast-iron. A small plaque affixed to the column identifies it as such. "Mesker Bros, Front Builders" it says. The manufacture of metal fronts for buildings began in the eastern U. S. in the 1840s and by mid-century there were foundries throughout the United Sates. The builders of the Baumeister Building ordered its sheet metal facade from the Mesker Brothers Ironworks of St Louis. A builder chose a front from a catalog, had it shipped by railroad, and--voila--he had a ready-made, durable and attractive front ready to affix to the structure.
Also fabricated in metal, over the second story windows, is stamped big and bold that Max Baumeister built this structure and he did it in 1889. When it was first built the address in the city directory was listed as "between 2nd and 3rd" but now we find it by going to 27 West Main. Max Baumeister was a real estate and insurance agent in partnership with Harry Reynolds. You might expect that Mr. Baumeister would set up his own office in his handsome new building, but he worked from 8 E. Main and later he occupied space in the impressive Die Brucke building, which he also built.
Posted by: Administrator in Business on
Sep 20, 2011
How would you like to drink the wine from the barrel you are sitting on? Sound impossible? Not in the eyes of Ian Crawford and Doug Gisi, co-owners of Vinoture, a thriving furniture company whose artistic and tasteful products are solely comprised of used wine barrels. As Crawford puts it, when sitting on a bar stool made by Vinoture, you are experiencing the full cycle of the Walla Walla wine process with all of the wood coming from local wineries. There is even a vintage Leonetti Cellar set - Walla Walla's most prestigious and first winery.
The ebullient Crawford and the soft spoken Gisi complement one another perfectly. Crawford exclaims, "I am the idea man. Doug is the engineer and artist. I also call him the ‘metal god,'" referring to Gisi's ability to transform barrel rings into sturdy furniture supports and artistic ornaments such as the silver orbs -- tasteful as indoor and outdoor decorations.
Sitting in the shop and listening to Crawford and Gisi talk, one senses an undeniable genuineness towards their "life's passion." Both are self-taught. Both took a tremendous chance on this endeavor, and both are obviously infatuated with the prospects of transforming wine barrels into sturdy, long lasting furniture.
Crawford, a native of Flathead Valley, Montana, was in the wedding planning business before launching into barrel furniture. After moving to Walla Walla in an effort to enhance his business, Crawford asked the talented Gisi to join him. Gisi whose day job was carpentry, accepted the offer. "Vinoture was a great business name," says the Walla Walla native. "It was a great concept, a great product, and great wood with wonderful patina - the possibilities are endless."
Posted by: Catie McIntyre Walker in Wine on
Sep 12, 2011
This is the time of year when the vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley are beginning to take on veraison - the onset of ripening for the grapes. Crush will be starting at the wineries soon and the sweet smell of grapes will fill the air along with the smoky leaves of autumn. This is truly my favorite time of the year in our valley. This is the time of the year when I am often reminded of how our little valley took such a prominent place in the Washington State wine industry.
Leonetti Cellar is one of our longer standing wineries in Washington State and especially of Walla Walla. It is known as the winery that "started it all" - meaning it was one of the earliest wineries producing limited wines that lovers and critics started to take notice of in the Walla Walla Valley. Something tells me that Gary Figgins, winemaker and creator of Leonetti, just didn't wake up one day and say, "I am going to become a 'cult' winemaker." It was probably the furthest thing from his mind.
Once upon a time ...
It started when Gary was a young father and in the army reserves. While in the reserves, he made treks to Northern California, and side trips to the wine country. But most of all, he was influenced by his maternal-grandparents who settled in the Walla Walla valley from Italy in 1905. As many European families did, they brought their wine making craft to America.
