Hidden Gems: Meet Jim Mason of Michigan Reclaimed Barns & Lumber

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Mason.

Hi Jim, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Jim Mason founded the Wolverine Wrestling Club in 1998 because of his love for the sport of wrestling, and as a way to give back to a sport that gave him so much.

Jim is one of 16 children who grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He began wrestling at 6 years old, following in his older brother’s footsteps. And he attributes much of his success, not just in wrestling, but also in life, to the sport.

Wrestling kept him off the streets for several critical hours every single day. Best case, it kept him alive. Worst case, it kept him out of jail. Either way, wrestling provided the support and the safe space for Jim to grow as an individual, as well as the opportunities to further his education. In fact, the sport provided him the opportunity for free tuition at St. Edward’s High School and Michigan State University. Jim started the WWC to be able to allow others to have these same opportunities.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing up in a family of sixteen we had many many challenges.

Life is not easy. Hard work and perseverance can get you there. However, Life can be very rewarding.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Jim founded Michigan Reclaimed Barns and Lumber back in 2009. And, like any great business, it was started right in the backyard. Jim made the leap from the corporate world to one filled with old barns and reclaimed wood and has not looked back since. What began as deconstructing barns across the state has turned into a multi-location operation that offers a wide variety of services and products.

We offer locally sourced, premium reclaimed barn wood that we salvage from barns right here in Michigan and some of the surrounding states in the Midwest. The wood we repurpose from these barn sites is nothing like you find in a hardware store. We’re talking exceptional quality hardwoods- Chestnut, Oak, Pine, Poplar, Hemlock, Walnut, Fir, and Beech. Plus, we offer live edge slabs, custom designed and made furniture, home-installations, and custom milling.

The materials we have available are perfect for carpenters, woodworkers, contractors, artists, and the person who’s ready to dive into their latest DIY project. Whether you want raw materials to create something on your own or are looking for fine, handcrafted, one-of-a-kind furniture, Michigan Reclaimed Barns and Lumber seriously has it all.

Now, we’ve showcased some of our favorite custom pieces in our blog. The our fully customizable counter and bar tops are just as popular, not just in private homes, but also in restaurants and bars all across the state. We’ll stop there before we get too carried away, but if you are looking for inspiration or wondering what other people have commissioned, you definitely want to check out some of the other blogs (and, yes, we absolutely included tons of pictures)!

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Wolverine Wrestling Club to create a safe space for kids in the sport. His goal has been to provide a positive experience for kids in grades 4 through 12, while also promoting sportsmanship, leadership, and character development. The club also fosters a passion for the sport of wrestling.

The club provides kids with structure, a sense of purpose, and the knowledge that they truly belong to something much greater than themselves.

Wrestling brings together a group of like-minded individuals, many of whom become life-long friends who share a common bond. In our wrestling room, our wrestlers sweat, bleed, train, and compete together- they cry together in defeat and celebrate together in victory.

Together, our wrestlers learn that, after wrestling, there is absolutely nothing in life that cannot be accomplished.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wolverinewrestlingclub.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolverineWrestingClub
• Twitter: https://x.com/Wolverine_WC