Here’s an article by Brian Barrington from the Buffalo Cooperative Credit Union:

In keeping with its mission of promoting community development, the BCFCU made use of local materials and local craftspersons in the construction of teller counters for its new office located at 816 Elmwood Avenue. The new teller counters are part of many enhancements to the BCFCU’s new office.

The counters are made from wood which was salvaged from a Lombard Street house which was deconstructed by Buffalo ReUse. Buffalo ReUse is a local not-for profit group which provides a creative solution to handling the problem of disposing of the city’s inventory of condemned houses. Instead of following the established practice of demolishing condemned houses and disposing of the waste, Buffalo ReUse deconstructs these houses in a piecemeal manner and salvages all materials which have a potential use. By using materials obtained from Buffalo ReUse, the BCFCU has helped to illustrate how valuable construction materials can be reused within the community, instead of being exported out of the area or deposited into a landfill.

The materials obtained from Buffalo Reuse were crafted into two beautiful teller counters by Bruce and Mary Beyer, well-known local artisan woodworkers. Bruce and Mary have several decades of experience in creating artisan woodwork for the Buffalo community. The BCFCU plans to employ their services in the creation of other office furnishings.

If you would like more information about Buffalo ReUse you can find them on the web at www.buffaloreuse.org. Bruce’s and Mary’s woodworking studio is located at the corner of Clinton Street and Emslie Street.