My grandfather, T. B. (Tom) Sears was in the lumber business, as was my father, W. R. (Raymond) Nichols. I, Raymond Thomas Nichols, practically grew up in a lumber yard. I enjoyed being around the lumber business, but I wanted to go to college and become an Industrial Arts teacher. In 1958 I went to Eastern Kentucky State College and earned a B.S. and an M.A. degree in Industrial Education. I taught woodworking and other shop classes for about 10 years. It was difficult to support a family on a teacher’s salary, so I resigned and developed rental property. I also worked as a cabinet maker and in a variety of sales positions. After an early retirement in 2002, because of a work related accident, I was able to do woodworking in my backyard shop “for the pleasure” of it. I was asked to build a set of kitchen cabinets out of American Chestnut wood. I really enjoyed working with this wood and now I use American Chestnut in about 80% of the pieces I make. Contact Tom To inquire about purchasing, email rtn141@aol.com or call 606-678-4878 During the administration of George W. Bush an American Chestnut Hybrid was set on the White House lawn.  As an expression of appreciation I made a necktie out of reclaimed American Chestnut wood, which was presented to President Bush by Senator Hal Rodgers. Because of a fungus blight that infected the American Chestnut tree, by the late 1940’s  there were no American Chestnut trees to harvest for lumber. Therefore, now American Chestnut wood must be “reclaimed” from old structures. I search for buildings that were constructed with American Chestnut wood and recycle the wood into furniture and other useful items. Because American Chestnut wood is considered “extinct”, I do not throw away even the small pieces. I use them to make refrigerator magnets, fan pulls, and many other things including yo-yos and neckties. This enables anyone who would like to have a useful item from this “extinct” historic wood to have that opportunity.